2.5 Programming Languages and Integrated Development Environments

Question 1

High - Level Languages

Answer 1

Source code is easy for humans to read and write
Computers need to translate it before it can read or run it

Question 2

Low - Level Languages

Answer 2

Tricky for humans to read and write
Computers can run directly
Consists of machine code

Question 3

Example of High - Level Language

Answer 3

Python

Question 4

Features of High-Level Language

Answer 4

• One instruction in high - level language = many instruction in machine code
• Same code can work with many different machines
• Code is easy to understand, read, write

Question 5

Disadvantages of High - Level Language

Answer 5

Not much control over what the CPU does so less memory efficient
Must be translated before computer can read it

Question 6

Features of Low - Level Languages

Answer 6

• One instruction assembly code = one instruction machine code
• Computer does not need to translate code
• You control exactly what the CPU does so programs are memory efficient

Question 7

Disadvantages of Low - Level Languages

Answer 7

• Only works for one type of machine
• Code is difficult to read and write and modify

Question 8

Types of Translators

Answer 8

• Compilers
• Interpreters

Question 9

Translator: Compiler

Answer 9

Translate high - level code -> machine code
Create an executable file

Question 10

Translator: Interpreter

Answer 10

Take each instruction in code and call machine subroutines to carry out that instruction

Question 11

Features of a Compiler

Answer 11

• Translate all the source code at once
• Only needed once to create executable file
• Returns list of errors for the entire program once compiling is complete
• Compiling takes a long time, but program runs quickly afterwards

Question 12

Features of an Interpreter

Answer 12

• Translates and runs source code one instruction at a time
• Needed every time you want to run the program
• Interpreter will find 1 error then stop (used for debugging)
• Program runs slowly, as code is translated whilst running

Question 13

IDE full form

Answer 13

Integrated Development Environment

Question 14

Integrated Development Environment

Answer 14

Piece of software that provides features to help programmer to develop a program

Question 15

Features of IDEs

Answer 15

• Translator
• Auto - documentation
• GUI builder

Question 16

Features of IDEs: Translators

Answer 16

Allows source code to be understood by computer

Question 17

Features of IDEs: Auto-Documentation

Answer 17

Maintains the program
Extracts certain features of a program (e.g. names of variables, names of sub programs, comments) and stores in separate document to give summary of code

Question 18

Features of IDEs: GUI builder

Answer 18

Helps programmer design a UI graphically instead of using source code
Can drag and drop objects and customise them