Languages and Translators

Question 1

What is a low level language?

Answer 1

Code in the form that the computer can directly understand and can allow direct control over the CPU, e.g. binary, machine code.

Question 2

What is a disadvantage of a low level language?

Answer 2

It is difficult to read.
It is harder to debug
Non-transferable - specific to machine

Question 3

What is a high level language?

Answer 3

Code that is easier to read and understand, and needs a translator in order for the computer to understand it, e.g. Python.

Question 4

What is a disadvantage of a high level language?

Answer 4

Slower as it needs to be translated for the computer to understand it.

Question 5

What is an advantage of a high level language?

Answer 5

The code is transferable and can be used across different computers.
Easier to understand than a low level language as it is closer to the English language.

Question 6

What is an advantage of a low level language?

Answer 6

Faster - as it does not need to be translated.

Question 7

What is the purpose of a translator?

Answer 7

Converts a high level language into a low level language.

Question 8

What is an interpreter?

Answer 8

A translator that reads line-by-line, and stops when it finds a syntax error.

Question 9

What is the disadvantage of an interpreter?

Answer 9

Slower - after first execution - as it reads line by line.
Needs to be translated every time.

Question 10

What’s an advantage of an interpreter?

Answer 10

Faster - first time only - as you don’t need to wait for an executable file.
Errors are identified as it run - so it can be fixed.

Question 11

What is a compiler?

Answer 11

Creates an executable file and translates the code all at once.

Question 12

What is the disadvantage of a compiler?

Answer 12

Errors are listed at the end once the whole program has been run, making it more difficult to resolve.

Question 13

What is an advantage of a compiler?

Answer 13

You only need to use it once, and code is then hidden as it is an executable file.

Question 14

Paper 1 link - which type of software is associated with a compiler?

Answer 14

Proprietary software as an executable file is created, so the actual code is hidden from the end user.

Question 15

Paper 1 link - which type of software is associated with a interpreter?

Answer 15

Open source software - this means the code is visible to those who want to see it.