FREE ESSAY ON PROGRAMMING LANGUAGUAGES

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGUAGES

Programming Languages
A programming language is a set of English-like instructions that includes a set of rules
for putting the instructions together to create commands. A translator changes the
English-like commands into numeric code that the computer can understand. The most common
type of translator is a compiler. The compiler is program that reads English-like
commands in a file and than creates another file containing computer readable numeric
code or commands. I will be talking about some of the major functions and uses six
high-level programming languages.
Java was developed by Sun MicroSystems and released in 1995. Java is based on C and C++
and incorporates many features object-oriented languages. It is a compiled language, but
it's code output is interpreted. This makes Java ideal for cross-development. The
downside to its interpreted code is speed. Java's object-oriented is fundamental, and all
code and data in a Java program exist within the object-oriented class. Java's exception
handiling with try, catch, and throw statements provide the solution for writing reliable
code that responds to all possible error conditions. Another advantage of Java is a
String class that does away with null-terminated, length byte and other types of strings.
It is also multithreaded which a class can easily provide code that runs concurrently
with other programing. Another advantage is the lack of a pointer-type data and memory
management which tends to be a very bug-prone area. Memory is organized by Java's virtual
machine garbage collector. Java provides a rich class library in beavery bug-prone area.
Memory is organized by Java's virtual machine garbage collector. Java provides a rich
class library in the forms of packages imported into modules. Since Java is interpreted
locally on the user's system, a security manager can completely control disk access,
window creation, and memory management.
C was developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labortories in 1972. C was originally designed
as symbolic code that formalized programming prasctices used at the time. In 1978 C
blossomed into what was to become the most popular programming language ever. C offers
programmers three advantages: The first is general pourpose programming which allows you
to write games, business software, utilities, mathematical models, wordprocessors,
spredsheets, and other kinds of software. The second is structured programming which
means it uses structured statements such as while and for loops in place of goto
statements that are easily misused. Third is that its a standardized programming
language, which is ANSI C, the reconized standard for programming language.
C++ was developed by Bjnarnte Strounstrip in the early 80's at Bell Labortories. It is an
object-oriented programming language which contains three elements: First is
encapsulation which extends the capacity of modularity. Second is polymorphism which is
the use of a name or symbol. Third is inheritance which allows the designer to take
existing objects and create new ones that inherit the properties of an earlier object.
Objects are created in C++ through the mechanism of the class which is a data type
similar to the C structure. However it differs from the C structure in many important
ways. The most important is that it not only contains varible numbers, but also function
numbers which are the methods that act on the varible numbers. C++ class also contains
two basic sections, a private section and a public section. A private sectons is parts of
a class that are available to member functions but that cannot be accessed from outside
the function. A public section defines the interface between the class object and the
rest of the program. The class data type is the focus of C++, everyting in the language
revolves around this user-defined data type. C++ is a evolutionary step up from C, much
of it's syntax is identical to that of C. Some of the basic features and syntax that are
shared by both are The Main( ) function, the use of function arguments,arithmetic and
logical operators, control and looping statement,
Bit wise communication, and basic data types.
Visual basic evolved from BASIC. It was created by Microsoft Corporation in 1991. Visual
basic is an example of a graphical-based language which allows the user to directly work
with graphics. It is created in an Integrated Development Enviorment (IDE). IDE allows
the programmer to run, debug, and create Visual basic programs convienietly. It also
allows programmers to make programs in fraction of the time it would normally take.
Visual basic is also the most widely used Rapid Application Development language which is
the process of rapidly creating an application. Its an event-driven language that does
not follow a defined sequence of instructions. It responds to events to execute different
sets of instructions depending on which event occurs. Visual basic is also an
object-oriented language, it uses identifiable shapes, each of which has certain
properties and can respond to a variety of events.
Cobol is a programming language especially aimed at solving business problems and can be
used as a solution to many data processing problems. Cobol was developed by the
conference on Data Systems Languages convened in 1959 byu te Department of Defense.
Approximatly 90% of all Cobol code runs in character based enviorment and contains no
grahics. A Cobol program is made up of four mandatory divisions: The Identification
division which marks the beginning of a Cobol program. Second is the Enviorment division
which contains statements or commands to describe the physical enviorment in which Cobol
is running. Third the Data division which contains statements describing the data used by
the program. Lastly the Procedure division which contains the Cobol statements that the
program will execute after the program stars running. A Cobol source code file has five
areas extending from left to write across the page. The first six chracters of a line are
called the sequence number area. This area provides with warning that numbers are out of
sequence. Cobol has a certain minimum amount of code that is required for all programs,
this is usually called a shell program.
Delphi is a Rapid Application progarm which now progrrammers can use tools which are more
intuitive and visual. Delphi uses Object Pascal as its foundation language, which has
been one of the fastest compilers in the business. Also object-based extensions has been
added to the language to support good programming practices and efficent code. Delphi is
capeble of using OCX controls, which is a 32-bit OLE-based custom control. Delphi also
allows you to create OLE automation servers and clients. These automation objects give
you the flexibility of creating programs that perform tasks in the backround and put the
results back to your application. Anoter advantage for Delphi is the ability to write
multi-threaaded applications. In a multi-tasking enviorment thi is important, as your
applications become more comple, it is necessary to execute your applications in seprate
pieces, which are called threads.
In conclusion, the following was an overview of six high level languages. Many are
similar, but there are very distinct features and advantages to each language