Programming is the process of writing instructions that a computer can understand and execute. These instructions are written using programming languages, and they allow us to create everything from mobile apps to websites, games, robots, and even AI.
🕰️ A Little History of Programming
Programming has evolved significantly over time:
- The earliest programs were written in machine language, which uses binary (0s and 1s). It's the only language a computer's processor understands directly, but it's incredibly difficult for humans to read or write.
- To make programming slightly easier, assembly language was introduced. This uses short words (called mnemonics) like
MOV, ADD, or SUB, which represent instructions. These are still close to machine code, but easier for humans to write.
- As computing became more advanced, high-level programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL, C, and later Python were developed. These look more like English, making programming more accessible to people without hardware expertise.
🧠 High-Level vs Low-Level Languages
- Low-Level Languages (e.g., Assembly):
- Directly interact with hardware.
- Very fast and efficient.
- Harder to read, write, and debug.
- Example: Writing
MOV AX, 01H to move a value into a register.
- High-Level Languages (e.g., Python, Java):
- Easier to read and write.
- Portable — can run on different computers with minimal changes.
- Closer to natural human language.
💡 Analogy: Writing in machine code is like giving instructions in Morse code. High-level languages are like writing instructions in English.
⚙️ Generations of Programming Languages
- First Generation (1GL): Machine code — binary numbers like
101101.
- Second Generation (2GL): Assembly language — uses mnemonics like
MOV, ADD.
- Third Generation (3GL): High-level languages — procedural and object-oriented (e.g., C, Java, Python).
- Fourth Generation (4GL): Designed for specific tasks, often require less code (e.g., SQL, MATLAB).
- Fifth Generation (5GL): Used for AI and logic programming (e.g., Prolog), often focuses on solving problems without specifying exact steps.
🔄 Programming Language Translators