Programming Language

A vocabulary and set of grammatical rules for instructing a computer to perform specific tasks. The term programming language usually refers to high-level languages, such as BASIC, C, C++, COBOL, FORTRAN, Ada, and Pascal. Each language has a unique set of keywords (words that it understands) and a special syntax for organizing program instructions.

High-level programming languages, while simple compared to human languages, are more complex than the languages the computer actually understands, called machine languages. Each different type of CPU has its own unique machine language.

Lying between machine languages and high-level languages are languages called assembly languages. Assembly languages are similar to machine languages, but they are much easier to program in because they allow a programmer to substitute names for numbers. Machine languages consist of numbers only.

Lying above high-level languages are languages called fourth-generation languages (usually abbreviated 4GL). 4GLs are far removed from machine languages and represent the class of computer languages closest to human languages.

Regardless of what language you use, you eventually need to convert your program into machine language so that the computer can understand it. There are two ways to do this:

• Compile the program

• Interpret the program

See compile and interpreter for more information about these two methods.

The question of which language is best is one that consumes a lot of time and energy among computer professionals. Every language has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, FORTRAN is a particularly good language for processing numerical data, but it does not lend itself very well to organizing large programs. Pascal is very good for writing well-structured and readable programs, but it is not as flexible as the C programming language. C++ embodies powerful object-oriented features, but it is complex and difficult to learn.

The choice of which language to use depends on the type of computer the program is to run on, what sort of program it is, and the expertise of the programmer.

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Programming Language

A vocabulary and set of grammatical rules for instructing a computer to perform specific tasks. The term programming language usually refers to high-level languages, such as BASIC, C, C++, COBOL, FORTRAN, Ada, and Pascal. Each language has a unique set of keywords (words that it understands) and a special syntax for organizing program instructions.

High-level programming languages, while simple compared to human languages, are more complex than the languages the computer actually understands, called machine languages. Each different type of CPU has its own unique machine language.

Lying between machine languages and high-level languages are languages called assembly languages. Assembly languages are similar to machine languages, but they are much easier to program in because they allow a programmer to substitute names for numbers. Machine languages consist of numbers only.

Lying above high-level languages are languages called fourth-generation languages (usually abbreviated 4GL). 4GLs are far removed from machine languages and represent the class of computer languages closest to human languages.

Regardless of what language you use, you eventually need to convert your program into machine language so that the computer can understand it. There are two ways to do this:

• Compile the program

• Interpret the program

See compile and interpreter for more information about these two methods.

The question of which language is best is one that consumes a lot of time and energy among computer professionals. Every language has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, FORTRAN is a particularly good language for processing numerical data, but it does not lend itself very well to organizing large programs. Pascal is very good for writing well-structured and readable programs, but it is not as flexible as the C programming language. C++ embodies powerful object-oriented features, but it is complex and difficult to learn.

The choice of which language to use depends on the type of computer the program is to run on, what sort of program it is, and the expertise of the programmer.

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How to Become a Programmer

Unlike what you might find in some books and articles, programming can not be actually learned in 7, 21 or even 365 days. It is an accumulative process that builds up your skills day after day and year after year. However, programming can also be fun and rewarding (both mentally, spiritually and financially). This guide does not promise to give a magical easy way to becoming a programmer, and the ordering of the steps is not sacred, but you'll get a general outline of how to become a programmer in one of the modern programming fields.

Step:

1. Prepare yourself for becoming a programmer:
   
   
   
   1. Take at least one introductory course in Mathematics (i.e. introductory calculus as it significantly improves your experience as a programmer).
   
   
   2. Take an introductory course in logic, discrete Mathematics or both.
   
   
   3. Learn at least one of the following program conception techniques. As you advance in programming you'll need to learn almost all of them. The methods are listed in the most often used order.
      
      
      
      • Flow Charting (globally considered the easiest to learn)
      
      
      • Pseudo-Code
      
      
      • Unified Modeling Language (UML)
      
      
      • Object Relational Mapping (ORM)
   
   
   4. Learn simple database concepts such as tables, views/queries and procedures. You can use any simple database package to do this, such as MS access, DB V, Fox Pro, Paradox.
   
   
   5. Learn about programming paradigms (an introduction is enough for now), the most important being procedural, object oriented, functional, logic and declarative programming.


2. Decide what type of programmer you are/want to be. Programmers generally fall under one of the following categories:
   
   
   
   • Web Programmer
   
   
   • Desktop Application Programmer
     
     
     
     • Operating System (OS) Oriented (tied to a single operating system or set of operating systems)
     
     
     • Platform Independent
   
   
   • Distributed Applications Programmer
   
   
   • Library/Platform/Framework/Core Programmer
   
   
   • System Programmer
     
     
     
     • Kernel Programmer
     
     
     • Driver Programmer
     
     
     • Compiler Programmer
   
   
   • Programming Scientist


3. Learn the technologies and programming languages related to your programming field of choice. The following sections break down the tasks for different types of programming.

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