Programming languages, translators and IDEs
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| translator/trænˈsleɪtə/ | Software that converts program code from one language or representation into another, such as a compiler, interpreter or assembler. |
| programming language/ˈprəʊɡræmɪŋ ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ | A system of symbols and rules used to express instructions that a computer can execute after any necessary translation. |
| machine code/məˈʃiːn kəʊd/ | Instructions encoded in binary form that a processor can execute directly. |
| high-level language/haɪ ˈlevl ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ | A programming language that expresses instructions using abstractions rather than machine-specific operations. |
| low-level language/ləʊ ˈlevl ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ | A programming language close to a machine's hardware or instructions, such as assembly language. |
| assembly language/əˈsemblɪ ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ | A low-level programming language using symbolic names for machine instructions and their operands. |
| compiler/kəmˈpaɪlə/ | Software that translates a program from a source language into another form, commonly machine or intermediate code. |
| interpreter/ɪnˈtɜːprɪtə/ | Software that executes a program by processing its instructions at runtime rather than requiring a separate complete native executable first. |
| integrated development environment/ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪd dɪˈveləpmənt enˈvaɪrənmənt/ | Software combining tools for writing, running and debugging programs. |
Languages and translators 翻译程序
- People write programs in a programming language 编程语言; the CPU runs machine code 机器码.
- Languages are high-level or low-level.
- A translator converts a program to machine code — and an IDE helps you write it.
Computing concept lab
Classify concrete examples by the computing idea they demonstrate.
High-level vs low-level
- A high-level language 高级语言 (e.g. Python) reads like English — easy to write/fix and portable (runs on different computers).
- A low-level language 低级语言 is close to the hardware: machine code (binary, run directly by the CPU) and assembly language 汇编语言 (mnemonics for machine code).
- Low-level code is CPU-specific — used when you need full hardware control or very fast, small code.
High-level languages are close to human language and portable; low-level languages (assembly and machine code) are close to the hardware and tied to one CPU
A compiler 编译器 translates the whole program once into machine code; an interpreter 解释器 translates and runs one line at a time.
A high-level language (like Python):
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
High-level languages are easy to read/write and portable; low-level languages are CPU-specific.
Compiler vs interpreter
| Compiler | Interpreter | |
|---|---|---|
| Translates | the whole program at once | one line at a time |
| Errors | all reported at the end | stops at the first error |
| Finished program | runs fast, no translator needed | slower, needs the interpreter |
- Use a compiler to share a fast finished program; an interpreter while writing and testing.
An operating system is software — the programs that tell the hardware what to do.
Match each term to what it is.
Difficulty 2/5 · 140 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
High-level → readable; machine code → binary; a compiler translates once, an interpreter goes line by line.
A compiler:
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
A compiler translates everything once into a fast stand-alone program; an interpreter goes line by line.
An interpreter translates the whole program once, so it runs fast without the interpreter; a compiler translates line by line.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
False. They are swapped: a compiler translates the whole program once and the result runs without it, while an interpreter translates and runs line by line, stopping at the first error.
Integrated development environment 集成开发环境 (IDE)
- An IDE puts the tools to write programs in one place:
- a code editor, a run-time environment, a translator, error diagnostics, auto-completion/correction, and prettyprinting (neat colour + indentation).
Hardware is the physical parts; software is the programs
Which is a feature of an IDE?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
An IDE bundles an editor, translator, run-time, diagnostics, auto-complete and prettyprinting.
You've got it
- high-level = English-like, portable; low-level = machine code (binary) / assembly, CPU-specific
- a translator turns code into machine code; compiler (whole program at once) vs interpreter (line by line)
- compiler → fast finished program; interpreter → easy testing
- an IDE bundles editor, translator, diagnostics, auto-complete and prettyprinting