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Generations of Programming Languages

The document outlines the generations of programming languages, from low-level languages like machine code and assembly language to high-level languages such as Python, Java, and C++. Low-level languages offer efficiency and control but are complex and non-portable, while high-level languages provide ease of use and portability at the cost of performance and control. Each type of language has its own advantages and disadvantages, impacting their suitability for different programming tasks.

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2 views

Generations of Programming Languages

The document outlines the generations of programming languages, from low-level languages like machine code and assembly language to high-level languages such as Python, Java, and C++. Low-level languages offer efficiency and control but are complex and non-portable, while high-level languages provide ease of use and portability at the cost of performance and control. Each type of language has its own advantages and disadvantages, impacting their suitability for different programming tasks.

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online school
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Generations of Programming Languages:

 1GL: First Generation Language, machine code.


 2GL: Second Generation Language, Assembly language.
 3GL: Third Generation Language, high-level languages like C, COBOL, FORTRAN.
 4GL: Fourth Generation Language, closer to human language, examples include
SQL, MATLAB.
 5GL: Fifth Generation Language, languages that use artificial intelligence and
machine learning, examples include Prolog.

Low-Level Languages

Examples:

1. Machine Language:
o Directly understood by the computer's hardware.
o Consists of binary code (0s and 1s).
o Example: 10110000 01100001 (represents a machine instruction).
2. Assembly Language:
o A step above machine language.
o Uses mnemonic codes and labels instead of binary.
o Example: MOV AL, 61h (moves the hexadecimal value 61 into the AL
register).

Advantages:

1. Efficiency: Programs run very fast and are highly optimized.


2. Control: Offers precise control over hardware and memory usage.
3. Size: Programs are typically smaller in size.

Disadvantages:

1. Complexity: Difficult to learn and use due to its detailed nature.


2. Portability: Not portable; code written for one type of hardware may not run on
another.
3. Development Time: Takes longer to write and debug.

High-Level Languages

Examples:

1. Python:
o General-purpose language with easy-to-read syntax.
o Example: print("Hello, World!")
2. Java:
o Object-oriented language that is platform-independent.
o Example: System.out.println("Hello, World!");
3. C++:
o Combines procedural and object-oriented programming.
o Example: std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;

Advantages:

1. Ease of Use: Easier to learn and write due to abstraction from hardware details.
2. Portability: Code can run on different platforms with little or no modification.
3. Development Speed: Faster development and debugging process.

Disadvantages:

1. Performance: Generally slower than low-level languages due to additional layers of


abstraction.
2. Less Control: Limited control over hardware and memory management.
3. Resource Consumption: High-level languages may consume more resources due to
overheads.

Summary

 Low-Level Languages: Machine Language and Assembly Language; offer efficiency


and control but are complex and not portable.
 High-Level Languages: Python, Java, and C++; provide ease of use and portability
but may sacrifice performance and control.

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