Programming Languages

Question 1

What is a computer program?

Answer 1

A sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute to accomplish a task or achieve a particular result

Question 2

List 3 levels pf programming languages

Answer 2

Machine language (low level)
Assembly language (intermediate level)
English language (high level)

Question 3

Describe machine language

Answer 3

A program written as a series of binary codes that are understandable by the CPU

Question 4

Describe assembly language

Answer 4

The source code of programs consists of mnemonic instructions eg move.w#$2,05, each of which corresponds directly to a machine instruction for a particular processor

Question 5

Describe high language

Answer 5

Independant of the internal machine code of any particular computer and uses simple english like terms and statements that are easier for the programmer to use and understand. It must be converted into machine language by a compiler or interpreter

Question 6

Describe the purpose of a compiler

Answer 6

Converts the entire program source code into the machine language executable code all at once

Question 7

Describe the purpose of an interpreter

Answer 7

Reads the high language one instruction at a time, converting instruction into machine language and then executing it, then moving onto the next instruction

Question 8

Describe how a compiler is different from an interpreter

Answer 8

compiler converts entire program source into executable code, while an interpreter converts one line of source code (one instruction) at a time, executes the machine code and moves to the next instruction