Development of Various Program Languages Since the inception of computing, programming languages have come evolving through distinct generations with the changing technology and manner of interaction with machines. This has seen new paradigms, concepts and levels of abstraction introduced by each generation thus changing how code is written and how software is developed.
“From the most straightforward language forms, namely machine codes, to more sophisticated elevated ones”: The post shall review the stages of programming languages focusing on what they are primarily characterized by, the advantages they have, and how they are called. For those who want to improve their programming skills and understand how the changes in it occur, the article may be of great help. So would you like to go back to the past with us in order to know where common programming languages have come from?”
The Evolution of Code: The Generation’s:
First generation or first generation:
Around 1945, the first generation of languages was invented. Machine language is generally known as the first generation language. It is the lowest level of the language. It is the only basic language for computers. In this language everything is written using hex system or using two binary numbers 0 and 1.
Computers cannot understand any language other than machine language. If someone writes a program in another language, the computer converts it into machine language with the help of a translator.
Early programming for computers was done in machine language. But creating programs in machine language was very complex and laborious work as well as required a lot of time. So now all programs are done in high level languages. The machine language for one company’s computer may not match the machine language of another company’s computer. As a result, programs created for one computer could not be used on another computer.
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The instructions given with the help of machine language can be divided into four categories .
1) Arithmetic means addition, subtraction, multiplication, division.
2) Control ie Load, Store and Jump instructions.
3) Input output i.e. read (Read) and write (Write) instructions.
4) Direct use (Direct use) means start (Start), stop (Halt) and end (End).
Advantages of Machine Language:
- This language can be written in the least amount of logic and memory space.
- Machine language is absolutely necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the internal organization of a computer.
- This language is faster than other languages.
- Direct connection with circuit or memory address is possible with this language.
So machine language can be used to correct errors in computer circuits.
Disadvantages of Machine Language:
- Writing programs in machine homes is very time consuming and tedious.
- Because this program requires the computer to have a clear idea of the actual location of each instruction and memory address.
- Machine language is machine dependent i.e. a program selected for one type of machine cannot be used for another machine.
- Skilled programmers are required to write programs in machine language.
Changing machine language is difficult.
Second generation language:
Assembly language is generally known as second generation language. This language can also be called sign language. Its circulation began around 1950. It gained popularity as a second generation computer language.
In this language, instructions and data were addressed using signals rather than binary or hexadecimal numbers. These signals are called mnemonic or symbolic codes. A symbol that helps to remember a large number or word is called a mnemonic. Example – Mnemonic LDA of stored in accumulator.
In this language, data and data addresses are given with the help of mnemonics. Alphanumeric and numeric characters are used for this purpose. One or more characters can be used together, but all leftmost characters are always letters. Like A, B, A1, B2 etc. A program written in this language is shown below with explanation. Program Name : Add the A and B inputs and put the sum in the accumulator.
A language that is programmed using symbolic codes or mnemonics is called assembly language. A complete assembly language instruction is usually given in four parts.
1. Label,
2. operation code,
3. operand and
4. Comment (Comment).
However, in some cases assembly language instructions may not contain labels, operands and comments. Each part is called a field. All cases are always on one line.
Label:
The instruction symbol resides in the address label. In jump cases the address of the next instruction is given in the label. Sometimes there may not be a label. The label consists of one to two alphanumeric characters with no spaces between them. The first letter of the label is always any letter.
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Operation Code:
Instructions are in mnemonic operation codes. These mnemonics may be different for different computers. But usually like LDA, STA, ADD, CLR etc.
Operand:
The location address of the operand is usually denoted by an alphanumeric character. Like- A, B, A1, B2, AB, MN etc.
Comments are used for the programmer’s own benefit. Comments are not translated into machine language. Comments are actually explanations of each instruction so that a future programmer or someone else can understand the exact meaning of the program. Without comments it becomes difficult for the programmer himself to understand the program easily.
Assembly language, like machine language, depends on the architecture of the computer, i.e. a program written in assembly language of one model of computer may not be usable on another model of computer.
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Third Generation or Third Generation Language:
Machine and assembly language were a major problem. And the problem is that a program written for one computer cannot be used on another type of computer. Moreover these two languages are called low level languages whose programming is difficult and laborious. This low level language is easy for computers to understand but very difficult for humans to understand. And to get rid of this difficulty, higher languages emerged.
Languages that are similar to human languages are called high-level languages. Programs written in high-level languages can be used on different types of machines. Because these programming languages are above the control of computer organization, these languages are called higher level languages. Examples of higher level languages are BASIC, Pascal, C, Cobble etc.
Main advantages of advanced language:
- Programs written in high-level languages can be run on any computer.
- It is easy for humans to learn high level language from low level language.
- Programs can be written quickly in this language.
- Instead of four or five instructions in a low-level language, a high-level language only needs to write one sentence.
- No knowledge of computers is required to write programs.
Features of high level language:
- High level language uses many words of normal language such as English.
- Computers do not have to think about machines while writing programs.
- Numerous built-in library program facilities exist.
- A program statement is equivalent to a number of machine statements, i.e. the program is shortened.
- There are approximately 25 common high-level languages. Notable languages among them are Algorithm, Cobalt, PL/1, APL, Logo, Limp, C, Prolog, Forth, Fortran, Pascal and BASIC.
Fourth Generation or Fourth Generation Language:
A number of languages developed for easy use by computers are called fourth generation languages or 4GL. Fourth generation languages are simpler than higher languages although they require more processing power. With the help of 4GL, applications can be developed easily, so it is also called Rapid Application Development tool.
Languages used for report generators or data processing or querying associated with database management are considered fourth generation languages. These languages allow computer users to connect to databases and exchange data using commands similar to English. Some fourth generation languages are SQL, NOMAD, RPG 3, FOCUS, Intellect BPM etc.
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Fifth Generation or Fifth Generation Language:
Efforts are underway to use human natural language or natural language as the fifth generation programming language. This effort has come a long way and is still progressing. National language can be of two types. One is the human language like Bengali, English, Arabic, Spanish etc. and the other is the programming language which uses the human language to create a natural relationship with the computer.
Natural language should usually be very similar to English or human language. Many experiments are now underway to use computers in natural language like human language. The translator used to convert such language into machine language is called intelligent compiler. It is basically an artificial intelligence application field.
Conclusion
Technological advancements and changing interactions with machines have had an influence on programming language evolution. Each generation, starting from the basic machine languages of the first generation to today’s more advanced high-level languages, has brought in new paradigms and abstractions that have altered code writing and software development as we know it. This evolution is important to comprehend because it says a lot about where we are now and where we may go in the future in terms of programming.
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