Chapter 7 (P1)

Chapter 7 (P1)

1. Algorithms

   • Algorithms can be written in pseudocode, or flow diagrams.
     • Pseudocode is a detailed, yet readable description of what a program must do, written in an actual language rather than a programming language.
       • In a nutshell though, what do they do?
         • Simply, algorithms are used to represent a complicated (or a difficult) programming language in a simple sequence that concludes the language it translates.
     • A flow diagram in relation to computing, is a graphical representation of a computer program in relation to its sequence of functions.

2. Programming languages

   • High level code
     • A high-level language is a programming language that uses English and mathematical symbols, like +, -, % and many others, in its instructions.
       • When using the term 'programming languages', most people are actually referring to high-level languages, also known as C++, Java, Python etc.
   • Machine code
     • Machine code, is the only language that is directly understood by the computer, and it does not need to be translated. All instructions use binary notation and are written as a string of 1s and 0s
       • Binary notation is very difficult for humans to understand. This is where assembly languages come in.
         • An assembly language is the first step to improve programming structure and make machine language more readable by humans. An assembly language consists of a set of symbols and letters.
           • As a follow up, a compiler is a computer program that translates a program written in a high-level language to the machine language of a computer. The high-level program is referred to as 'the source code.'
             • In addition, an interpreter is a computer program that simulates a computer that understands a high-level language. This means that the interpreter translates the source code line by line during execution.