Ch 1 - What is coding?

Question 1

What is meant when “code follows instructions”?

Answer 1

It follows a set of very precise statements/directions to the letter.

Question 2

How is code similar to languages?

Answer 2

Code is similar to languages in that;

1. It can create the same functionality in the same way that languages can express the same objects, phrases and emotions.
2. Similar to syntax and structure coding languages can overlap just like spoken languages, e.g imprimer and imprimir.
3. Similar to spoken languages coding languages have a natural lifespan. The are “born” when a programmer thinks of a new, or easier, way to express a computational concept. To survive the language has to be adopted by other programmers and will die out, like Latin or Aramaic, due lack of use or wide spread adoption.

Question 3

What is meant when someone refers to a language as a “low level language”?

Answer 3

Low level languages interact directly with the CPU. They are capable of performing very basic commands and are generally hard to read. Machined code for example.

Question 4

What is meant when someone refers to a language as a “High level language”?

Answer 4

High level languages use natural language and are easier to read and write. An example of some high level languages are C++, Python, or Ruby.

Question 5

Why would an “Interpreter” or “Compiler” be used for coding?

Answer 5

An Interpreter or Compiler is used to translate a high-level language into a low-level language so that the computer can understand the instruction or instructions.

Question 6

What is the difference between compiled code and interpreted code?

Answer 6

Compiled code executes faster but is fading due to higher processing speeds. High-level languages like C++, CBot and visual basic are complied.
Interpreted code is considered to be more portable. High-level languages like Java, Python and Ruby are interpreted.