What is a high-level programming language?
A language designed to be easy for humans to read and write (e.g. Python, Java, C#).
What is a low-level language?
A language that is, or is close to, machine code, like assembly language.
Give two advantages of high-level languages.
- Easier to write, read, and debug.
- Programs are portable between different hardware and devices.
Give two disadvantages of high-level languages.
- Slower to execute than low-level languages.
- Must be translated into machine code.
Give two advantages of low-level languages.
- Faster and more efficient to execute.
- Gives more control over hardware, including direct control of the registers.
Give two disadvantages of low-level languages.
- Harder to read, write, and maintain.
- Not portable - specific to one type of processor.
Why do programs need translators?
Because computers can only understand machine code (binary).
What does a compiler do?
Takes a high-level program as source code, checks it for errors, and translates the entire program at once, creating an executable file.
What does an interpreter do?
Translates high-level programs into machine code statements line-by-line, which are then immediately executed.
True or false: interpreters generate machine code directly.
False. They call appropriate machine code subroutines within their own code to carry out statements.
Which is faster during execution: compilers or interpreters?
Compiler - after compiling, the program runs quickly.
Can a compiler create a separate machine code file?
Yes - the code is saved as an executable file and can be run again without recompiling.
Is machine code portable across devices?
No - it only works on the specific processor it was compiled for.
What is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)?
An IDE is a platform containing features which help programmers write clear and maintainable code.
What are some features of an IDE?
Auto-indentation, auto-suggestion, auto-correction, line numbers, debugging tools, variable tracing, interpreters, error diagnostics, and a runtime environment.
What are run-time environments?
Run-time environments use virtual machines to allow programs to run on several types of machine/device which they were not designed to run on.
