Explain about computer languages / software languages.
Computer processes information under instructions from the user which are given to the computer by way of input. These instructions can be written in one of various languages evolved over years. The categories are –
Low level languages : As the computer can understand only binary digits 0 and 1, the instructions in earlier years were directly written in binary codes known as machine language or low level language. It involved a lot of effort and difficult to produce error-free programming. The machine languages are machine/architecture dependent which is best known to the manufacturer. The machine language is also called the First Generation Language.
Assembly language is also a low level language where short English words were used instead of binary codes for defining various operations. Eg. ‘Add’ is used to perform adding numbers. These languages are Second Generation Languages. The Bankmaster Software was originally developed using Assembly Language.
These languages allow programming flexibility but involve a lot of time and effort.
Middle level languages : These languages offer flexibility of low level language and ease of programming of high level languages. ‘BASIC’ and ‘C” are the examples.
High level languages : These belong to third generation. They use English words for giving instruction to the computer and can be learnt and used by any person having some knowledge of writing programmes. Each high level language uses its own set of vocabulary and punctuation rules called ‘syntax’. Some high level languages are :
a) BASIC : Beginners’ All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. Easy to learn.
b) FORTRAN : FORmula TRANslation was the first computer language developed by IBM in 1957. Used in engineering and scientific applications. Syntax is very rigid in FORTRAN.
c) PASCAL : Designed for teaching computer science and used on small computers and is better structured than BASIC.
d) COBOL : Common Business Oriented Language is the most popular business language for data processing. We use this language even today for developing programmes.
e) C : It is a middle level general purpose language. It is used both with Unix and DOS. Developed in Bell Laboratories in early 1970s. C++ is Cs object oriented version.
Fourth Generation Languages : These are user friendly and easy to learn and use. These are generally software packages. If any error occurs guiding messages are flashed on the screen to enable the user to correct the error. SQL (Structured Query Language), Oracle, Ingress, Sybase etc., come under this.
In addition to the languages, we have translators, interpreters, assemblers, compilers, linkers etc., which are special programmes used to execute the instructions given in a computer language.
