2.5 Languages And Translators

Question 1

What are high level languages?

Answer 1

Code written similar to human language
Easier to understand and use
Fewer errors
More complex and powerful commands
Must be translated into machine code as cannot be directly executed by CPU

Question 2

What are low level languages?

Answer 2

Don’t closely resemble human language, making it harder for humans to understand and write in
Used when a program must be executed quickly as interacts directly with hardware

Question 3

Machine code

Answer 3

Pure binary code that computers can directly process and execute
Tedious for humans to understand and write
Very specific commands
Execute fastest, no need for translation

Question 4

Assembly language

Answer 4

Specialised command mnemonics to perform actions
Easier to understand and spot errors
Faster to execute than high level because it is used to directly control the CPU

Question 5

Translator

Answer 5

Changes a program written in one language to another

Question 6

Interpreter

Answer 6

Translates source code one line at a time into machine code
Slower than compiler because code must be reinterpreted each time the program is run
Smaller, simpler, programs
Report errors immediately and stops program from running
Can be edited and run without translating whole program
Reinterpret program every time it is run

Question 7

Compiler

Answer 7

Translates source code into machine code all in one go and produces an executable file that can run on other machines
More efficient code, runs faster
Large complex programs
Analyse entire program to produce error file
Analysis only required once
Recompiled if any changes are made

Question 8

Editor

Answer 8

Nuer and edit source code
Automatic formatting, line numbering, colour coding, statement completion

Question 9

Compilers and interpreters

Answer 9

Translators

Question 10

Breakpoint

Answer 10

Selects a specific point and displays variable value at that point
Code executed one line at a time to find error

Question 11

Variable watch

Answer 11

Displays current value of a selected variable

Question 12

Trace

Answer 12

Logs values of variables and outputs of the program as the code is executed line by line

Question 13

Error diagnostics

Answer 13

Display information about an error, such as line number and error type

Question 14

Runtime environment

Answer 14

Checks for runtime errors
Allows trace and breakpoint to be used