Common Programming Languages and Their Differences in Computer Science

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Knowledge Points in Computer Science for Upgrading to Bachelor’s Degree

——Common Programming Languages and Their Differences

There are many types of computer languages, which can generally be divided intomachine language, assembly language, and high-level language three main categories.

Every action and step taken by the computer is executed according to the pre-written program using computer languages. A program is a collection of instructions that the computer must execute, and all programs are written in languages we understand. Therefore, to control the computer, one must issue commands to the computer through computer languages.

The only language the computer can recognize is machine language, which consists of codes made up of 0s and 1s. However, people usually do not use machine language for programming because it is very difficult to remember and recognize.

Currently, there are two common forms of programming languages: assembly language and high-level language.

The essence of assembly language is the same as that of machine language; both directly operate on hardware. However, the instructions use English abbreviations for identifiers, making them easier to recognize and remember. Programmers still need to write each specific operation in the form of commands. An assembly program generally consists of three parts: instructions, pseudo-instructions, and macro-instructions. Each instruction in an assembly program corresponds to a very fine action in the actual operation process, such as moving or incrementing. Therefore, assembly source programs are usually lengthy, complex, and prone to errors. Moreover, programming in assembly language requires more specialized knowledge in computing, but the advantages of assembly language are also evident. Operations that can be performed in assembly language cannot generally be achieved in high-level languages, and the executable files generated from assembly source programs are not only relatively small but also execute very quickly.

High-level languages are the choice of the vast majority of programmers (the main programming tools we use now belong to high-level language programming). Compared to assembly language, it not only consolidates many related machine instructions into a single instruction but also removes details related to specific operations that are irrelevant to completing tasks, such as using stacks, registers, etc. This greatly simplifies the instructions in the program. At the same time, since many details are omitted, programmers do not need to have too much specialized knowledge.

High-level languages are relative to assembly language; they do not refer to a specific language but include many programming languages, such as the currently popular C, C#, C++, VB, VC, FoxPro, Delphi, etc. The syntax and command formats of these languages vary.

Programs written in high-level languages cannot be directly recognized by computers and must be converted before they can be executed, which can be divided into two categories:

Interpreted Languages: The execution method is similar to “simultaneous translation” in our daily life. The source code of the application program is “translated” into target code (machine language) by the corresponding language interpreter while being executed, so efficiency is relatively low, and it cannot generate independently executable files. The application program cannot operate independently of its interpreter, but this method is more flexible, allowing for dynamic adjustments and modifications to the application program.

Compiled Languages: Compilation means that before the application source program is executed, the source code is “translated” into target code (machine language), so the target program can operate independently of its language environment, making it more convenient and efficient. However, once the application program needs modification, the source code must be modified first, and then recompiled to generate a new target file (* .OBJ) for execution. It is inconvenient to modify since there is only the target file without the source code. Currently, most programming languages are compiled, such as Visual C++, Visual FoxPro, Delphi, etc.

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