What is Computer Programming?

It’s 10am in the morning, you’ve just woken up and you would like to make a cup of coffee. How would you go about it?

• Stand up
• Walk to your kitchen
• Boil water
• Add coffee and milk, if you like
• Your coffee is ready.

That’s how programming works, but now you’re writing these instructions for a computer to perform. Computer programming, also known as coding, involves writing well structured instructions for a computer to execute. (detailed instructions for a mindless machine).

Computer Languages

Language is a mode of communication that is used to share ideas, opinions with each other. For example, if we want to teach someone, we need a language that is understandable by both communicators.

Unlike the steps to make your coffee which are detailed in English, a computer only understands machine language – zeros and ones.

A programming language is a computer language that is used by programmers (developers) to communicate with computers.

It is a set of instructions written in any specific language ( C, C++, Java, Python) to perform a specific task.
Computer programs are written in a programming language – but it doesn’t mean a computer can directly interpret that language. Programming languages are divided into 2:

Low- level languages

Low-level language is machine-dependent (0s and 1s) programming language. The processor runs low- level programs directly without the need of a compiler or interpreter, so the programs written in low-level language can be run very fast.

Machine language 

Machine language is a type of low-level programming language. It is also called as machine code or object code.Machine language is easier to read because it is normally displayed in binary or hexadecimal form (base 16) form. It does not require a translator to convert the programs because computers directly understand the machine language programs.

Assembly language

Assembly language is also a type of low-level programming language that is designed for specific processors. It represents the set of instructions in a symbolic and human-understandable form. It uses an assembler to convert the assembly language to machine language.

High level languages

High-level programming language is designed for developing user-friendly software programs and websites. This programming language requires a compiler or interpreter to translate the program into machine language (execute the program).

Compilers and Interpreters

Compilers and Interpreters convert a computer program written in one language into another language, usually machine language which can be processed by a computer.

However, while a compiler translates the entire program at once  an interpreter translates just one statement of the program at a time.

A compiler is generally faster than an interpreter because because it analyses each statement just once, while an interpreter must analyse it each time (for example in a loop).