Unit 4.2- Software

Question 1

What are the two main catergories of programming languages [2]

Answer 1

1. High level (python, Java)
2. Low level (machine code)

Question 2

What is high level language [2]

Answer 2

1. designed for humans to read and write- intrustions similiar to english
2. most computer programs are written using high-level languages

Question 3

advantages of high level languages [2]

Answer 3

1. easy for humans to understand and debug
2. programs writted are machine independent (can be translated into machine code)

Question 4

disadvatages of high level language [2]

Answer 4

1. slower to execute than low-level
2. must be transalted into machine code - can be less efficient that if it was originally machine code

Question 5

What is low level language

Answer 5

closer to machine code (binary)

Question 6

Advantages of low level language (2)

Answer 6

1. Faster, more efficient to execute (and translate)
2. Gives more control over hardware

Question 7

disadvanages of low level language [2]

Answer 7

1. harder to read and write
2. not portable- specific to one type of processor

Question 8

What is assembly language?

Answer 8

1. form of low level language
2. uses mnemonics
3. single executable machine code instructions

Question 9

What are assemblers?

Answer 9

1. translates assembly language to machine code
2. 1:1 makes translation easy
3. platform specific- different ones must exist for different processor

Question 10

what is the relationship between assebly language and machine code

Answer 10

1:1 relationship
- each mnemonic instruction is a single machine code

Question 11

What are compilers? [3]

Answer 11

1. Used to translate programs written in high-level languages into machine code
2. check it for any errors, then translate the entire program
3. produce non-portable machine code (platform specific)

Question 12

What are interpreters [3]

Answer 12

1. translates high-level languages into machin code, line by line.
2. they do not check for errors before, they do it as they go line by line (programs with error can be partially translated
3. Both program source code + interpreter is present (poor protection)

Question 13

C vs I- starting of traslation

Answer 13

compiler checks source code for errors before translation
interpreter starts translation immediately

Question 14

C vs I- execution of program

Answer 14

compiler translates entire source code at once before executing
interpreter check each line, then translates, then executes

Question 15

C vs I- need of source code

Answer 15

compiler dont need source code present for execution of translated code
interpreter must have source code present during execution

Question 16

C vs I- protection of source code

Answer 16

compilers protects source from extraction
interpreters offer little protection

Question 17

What is an IDE [3]

Answer 17

1. Integrated Development Environment
2. software that brings tg tools to write, test, debug program
3. makes development faster

Question 18

Common functions of IDE

Answer 18

1. code editor
2. run-time environment
3. translators
4. error diagnostics
5. auto-completion
6. auto-correction
7. prettyprint

Question 19

Code editor (IDE)

Answer 19

provides a space to write + edit code
- syntax highlighting + line numbering

Question 20

Run-time environment (IDE)

Answer 20

allows the program to be run and tested withing the IDE- can see hwo it behaves without leaving environment

Question 21

Translators (IDE)

Answer 21

convert source code to machine code using compiler/interpreter

Question 22

Error diagnostics (IDE)

Answer 22

Identify and display the errors in the code
-giving details about problem

Question 23

Auto-completion (IDE)

Answer 23

suggests or completes code elements
- reduces mistakes and saves time

Question 24

Auto-correction (IDE)

Answer 24

Automatically fixes minor errors (missing brackets/typos)

Question 25

Prettyprint (IDE)

Answer 25

formats code neatly (consisten indentation + spacing) -easy to read/maintain