What are the types of programming languages?
Programming languages can be divided into generations.
The first generation includes the binary code, which took place in early computer programming. Programming in the MLL (Machine Level Languages) was a pain, as required an individual approach to each type of computer.
The second generation of a symbolic language are called assemblers. They operate on binary strings attached to mnemotechnical characters, each of which corresponds to the command of a single processor. Most assemblers are eg: x86 Assembler, NASM, TASM, MASM, FASM, GASM.
Programming languages with first-and second-generation programming are called low-level languages.
The third generation is a big step in the evolution of programming languages, which are included in high-level languages, which commands or instructions are similar to natural language. They are often abbreviations of English words, such as in Pascal – writing instruction is preceded with WriteIn command which causes that the message is printed on a new line. Fourth generation languages have special tools to build applications with ready-made components – modules. These languages are often an extension of the third-generation languages. There is also a view that fourth-generation languages provide object-oriented programming.
Languages belonging to the fifth generation are used to create programs for the development of expert systems – applications to facilitate decision-making, use of knowledge, which are known as artificial intelligence.
What is compiler?
The compiler is a computer program used to convert code written by the programmer (source code) in a language understood by the machine or in an equivalent object code.
The translation process is called compilation. When subsequent program instructions are translated and executed, the process is termed interpretation. Interpretive programs are compilers and interpreters. Compilation is, therefore, interpretation, translation, and the compiler is a translator (before starting the program there must be made the translation process) or interpreter.
Among the translators there can be distinguished: compilers, whose task is to translate programs written in high level languages and assembler languages explaining the symbolic languages.
What is linker or consolidator?
It often happens that the program consists not only of a single source file, but it also includes a library – files containing previously prepared additional features such as support for the screen, keyboard, mouse.
In order to linker (consolidator) was able to “understand” the instructions in the library, it musts use them in the creation of the program. Process to include libraries or object files to the program is called unkowing or consolidation.