Introduction to Programming basics

Program

A well defined set of instructions given to the computer that tell the computer what to do and how to do or a set of instruction given to the computer to solve a problem.Computer follows the instructions given to it.A program is also called software any person who develops the computer program is called a programmer.If you are a good problem solver then you have the potential to become a good programmer.

Programming languages

Programming language is set words symbols and rules that are used for writing computer programs.Programming language is means of interaction between user and computer.Programming languages are used to write source code.The programming languages are also used to avoid machine code because machine code is very difficult to write understand debug and maintain so programming languages are very useful in this situation because computer only understand binary language '0' or '1'.We have to follow programming language syntax because it’s like grammar rules, semicolon comma and other symbols have special meanings.Before actually running code source code is converted into machine code so that computer can understand it and perform required task.

Types of Programming languages

• Low-level languages
• High-level languages

Low-level languages

Low-level languages are near to computer hardware but far from human languages.Low-level languages are further divided into following:

• Machine language
• Assembly language

Machine language

Machine language is programming language in which instructions are written in binary ('0' or '1') only.Machine language is directly understandable by the computer.A program written in machine language executes very fast because computer does not need any language translator to understand it.

Machine language is very difficult to learn and understand.

Assembly language

Assembly language is one step higher than machine language.In this  language machine instructions are replaced with English like words known as mnemonics.Writing and modifying programs in assembly is easier than machine language.Assembly language is used for writing system software.A language translator known as assembler is used for translating programs written in assembly into machine language.

High-level languages

High-level languages are near to human languages.The instructions written in High-level languages are similar to English language.High-level languages are easy to learn and understand that's why there are many programmers of high-level languages.Some examples of high level languages are C,C++,Java,Pascal,BASIC,COBOL,FORTRAN etc.