Classification of Computer Languages
Hello Experts!
Strange request here. I wondering if a seasoned vet or someone with a bit of programming knowledge could address my question and accurately categorize the below languages in their appropriate level. This would help me greatly! Classification of "Lower" is not to be taken literally as in "Assembly" language but what the language in todays standards would be listed as. I hope this makes sense. And no, this isn't for homework. LOL!
Language Level
C Upper or Lower Level Langauge?
C++ Upper or Lower Level Language?
PERL SCRIPT " "
VBSCRIPT " "
JAVASCRIPT " "
Visual Basic " "
SQL Script " "
XML " "
DHTML " "
VRML " "
HTML " "
An example:
Many computer languages such as "C" were considered high level languages in their day but to todays standards, I would think most programmers would classify "C" as a "lower-level" language?
Strange request here. I wondering if a seasoned vet or someone with a bit of programming knowledge could address my question and accurately categorize the below languages in their appropriate level. This would help me greatly! Classification of "Lower" is not to be taken literally as in "Assembly" language but what the language in todays standards would be listed as. I hope this makes sense. And no, this isn't for homework. LOL!
Language Level
C Upper or Lower Level Langauge?
C++ Upper or Lower Level Language?
PERL SCRIPT " "
VBSCRIPT " "
JAVASCRIPT " "
Visual Basic " "
SQL Script " "
XML " "
DHTML " "
VRML " "
HTML " "
An example:
Many computer languages such as "C" were considered high level languages in their day but to todays standards, I would think most programmers would classify "C" as a "lower-level" language?
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Ah, I was waiting for someone to bring that up. A different classification was the generation levels. They tried to dodge the "high is the new low" thing by just enumerating the levels.
Quick and dirty summary:
1st generation is machine code
2nd generation is assembly (which is assembled into machine code)
3rd generation is structured languages (C, C++, .NET) which are compiled into assembly or machine code
4th generation is purpose-driven, specific languages (like SQL) where the language was build on top of the others for a specific task.
5th generation is usually used for languages that need less help from the programmer. You just tell it what problem you want to solve, and it figures out how to solve it for you. Example: A language where you can just type English instead of rigorous code and it figures out what you mean.
Quick and dirty summary:
1st generation is machine code
2nd generation is assembly (which is assembled into machine code)
3rd generation is structured languages (C, C++, .NET) which are compiled into assembly or machine code
4th generation is purpose-driven, specific languages (like SQL) where the language was build on top of the others for a specific task.
5th generation is usually used for languages that need less help from the programmer. You just tell it what problem you want to solve, and it figures out how to solve it for you. Example: A language where you can just type English instead of rigorous code and it figures out what you mean.
The definition of 4th generation can be a little fuzzy. It is most often used to describe object oriented languages. I have always considered SQL to be high level based on the level of abstraction.
However if you classify SQL as 4th generation where does that position JAVA? Then there is PHP which supports objects in PHP5, but continues to support function oriented PHP4 within the same script.
Scholars could spend a great deal of time making all sorts of logical arguments to support an infinite number of classification systems and by the time they finally came to a conclusion it would be moot because a new generation of languages has come into usage.
In the end it does not matter what the classifications are so long as an appropriate tool is selected for a given job, and we should all be grateful that we have such a large, diverse group to select from.
However if you classify SQL as 4th generation where does that position JAVA? Then there is PHP which supports objects in PHP5, but continues to support function oriented PHP4 within the same script.
Scholars could spend a great deal of time making all sorts of logical arguments to support an infinite number of classification systems and by the time they finally came to a conclusion it would be moot because a new generation of languages has come into usage.
In the end it does not matter what the classifications are so long as an appropriate tool is selected for a given job, and we should all be grateful that we have such a large, diverse group to select from.
I agree with that. There is no classification system that easily classifies every language and that everyone agrees on.
ASKER
Good dialog here guys, thanks for everyone's input. Now how to award the points...?
IMO, divide them equally:-)
Thanks for the assist, and the points.
Good luck & Happy Halloween.
Good luck & Happy Halloween.
But yeah, I always understood that the levels of language (upper/lower) was based on the number of layers the developer is removed from the machine code.