Differences

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--- computer_basics:programming_fundamentals [2018/08/23 01:49] – [High-level languages] mithat
+++ computer_basics:programming_fundamentals [2018/08/28 19:42] – [Programming languages] mithat
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ===== What is programming? =====
-  * **programming**: the discipline of creating computer software.
+  * **programming**: the discipline of creating computer programs.
   * **computer program**:
     * a set of step-by-step instructions
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
      * a set of rules used to write computer programs.
      * a way of telling the computer what operations to perform.
-  * Computers are binary machines.
+  * Computers are //binary// machines.
-    * Use only ON/OFF switches to control internal states
+    * Use only ON/OFF switches to control internal states.
     * Only understand instructions that are expressed in ON/OFF (or 1/0) terms.
-  * To make it easier for humans to program computers, various programming languages have been invented.
+  * Programming languages have been invented to make it easier for humans to write programs.
 ===== Levels of language =====
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ===== Machine language =====
-  * The lowest level of language.
-  * Consists of 1’s and 0’s.
 <code>
 10110110100100101101011101001010
 10110110110101101101011011000111
 </code>
+  * Lowest level of language.
+  * Just 1’s and 0’s.
+  * Very hard not to make a mistake.
   * Each type of computer processor has its own machine language.
 ===== Assembly language =====
-  * Use alphanumeric abbreviations or mnemonic codes as substitutes for machine language
-    * ''ADD'' for Add, ''CMP'' for Compare, ''MOV'' for Move, etc.
 <code>
@@ Line 65: / Line 64: @@
 </code>
-  * An **assembler** program converts an assembly language program into machine language.
+  * Alphanumeric abbreviations or mnemonic codes replace 1's and 0's.
+    * ''ADD'' for Add, ''CMP'' for Compare, ''MOV'' for Move, etc.
+  * **Assembler** program converts assembly language programs into machine language.
 ===== High-level languages =====
-  * Use general notation systems that most humans can understand.
-    * Often English-like or math-like.
 <code>
-if grade > 60:
+if score > 60:
     print('You passed!');
+else:
+    print('Try harder!')
 </code>
-  * Much more convenient to write and repair.
-  * Allows programmer to think less about language details and more about solving problem.
+  * Uses math-like or English-like notation systems.
-  * "Write once, run anywhere."
+  * Allows programmer to think less about language details and more about solving problems.
+  * Portability
 ===== Very high-level languages =====
@@ Line 86: / Line 87: @@
   * Tries to let people program using everyday language.
-	* "Show a list of names from the contact list," works just as well as "Display the names of everyone in the contact list."
+	* "Show a list of names from the contact list," same as "Display the names of everyone in the contact list."
 ===== Kinds of translation =====
   * High-level languages need to be **translated** into machine language.
-  * Three approaches to translation:
+  * Three approaches:
     * **interpreted**: translate one line of the program, run it, move to the next.
-    * **compiled**: translate the whole program at once; produces a machine code file that is executed.
+    * **compiled**: translate the whole program at once. Produces a new file full of machine code.
     * **hybrid**: translate the whole program into an in-between language; execute the in-between language in an interpreter.
@@ Line 133: / Line 134: @@
   * **documentation**: a written detailed description of the programming cycle and specific facts about the program.
-  * Many languages let you include some documentation in the program code.
+  * Most languages let you include some documentation in the program code.
   * Documentation is needed:
     * to help organize program planning