Topic 9 - IDEs and Programming Languages

Question 1

high-level languages

Answer 1

programming languages closer to human language that programmers can easily understand

Question 2

low-level languages

Answer 2

trickier for humans to read and write but easer for a computer to run

Question 3

examples of high level languages

Answer 3

• Python
• Java Script
• C++
• Scratch

Question 4

examples of low-level languages

Answer 4

• machine code : binary
• assembly code : uses mnemonics

Question 5

pros of high-level languages
( opposite for cons of low-level languages )

Answer 5

• same code works for many different processes and machines
• code is easy to read, understand and modify
• programmer can easily store data in different structures
• one line of high level code represents many instructions of machine code

Question 6

pros of low-level languages
( opposite for cons of high-level languages )

Answer 6

• commands in machine code can be executed without need of translator
• you control what the CPU does and how it uses memory
• more memory efficient and faster

Question 7

why do we need translators?

Answer 7

• computers only understand instructions in binary machine code
• high level languages need to be translated to machine code

Question 8

2 types of translators

Answer 8

• compilers
• interpreters

Question 9

compiler

Answer 9

• translates all source code at same time
• creates an executable file
• returns a list of errors once compiling is complete
• only needed once to create executable file

Question 10

interpreter

Answer 10

• translates and runs source code 1 line/instruction at a time
• doesn’t create executable file
• returns first error and then stops which is useful for debugging
• needed every time you want to run

Question 11

IDE long form

Answer 11

• Integrated Development Environment

Question 12

what is an IDE?

Answer 12

• a piece of software that provides programmers to develop their program

Question 13

features of an IDE

Answer 13

• code editor
• run time environment
• explorer window
• output window
• error diagnostics and debugging tools

Question 14

code editor

Answer 14

• main part of IDE, where code is written
• colour coding for different elements of code
• auto correct, auto indentation and auto completer

Question 15

run time environment

Answer 15

• allows code to be run quickly within IDE
• done using start or run button

Question 16

explorer window

Answer 16

• helps navigate through programs

Question 17

output window

Answer 17

• shows the output from a program when it is run

Question 18

error diagnostics

Answer 18

• helps to find errors in program
• tells location of error and suggests ways to fix it