Computing paper 2 - other stuff

Computing paper 2 - other stuff

1. Translators & facilities of languages

   • High level languages
     • Allows code to be written in a way similar to human languages
     • Easier for humans to understand
     • Gives programmers the ability to perform complex tasks
     • Can be used on multiple devices
   • Doesn't resemble normal languages
     • Consists of memorics and binary
   • Low level languages
     • Executed directly by the CPU so it operates efficiently
     • Need knowledge about CPU and memory to use
       • Harder to work with
     • Usually specific to each type of processor
   • Compilers/ interpreters
     • Compilers translate all code at once
       • Interpreters translate one line at a time
         • Executes one line at a time
           • Stops when an error is found
       • Creates an executable file
         • Reports all errors at end
   • IDE features
     • Error diagnostics
     • Run-time environment
     • Editor e.g. Auto correct
     • Translator
     • Version control
     • Break point
     • Stepping through the code

2. Robust programs

   • Improving maintainability of programs
     • Comments to explain purpose of sextions of code
     • Indentation makes it easier to see start and end of sections
     • Logical variable names for clear understanding of variables use
     • Constants used for easy update of fixed values in code

3. Search and sort algorithms

   • Linear search
     • Searches through every item one by one
       • Makes it slower than binary in large listd
     • List doesnt need to be stored
     • Easier to programme than binary searches
   • Binary search
     • Faster than linear search on larger lists
       • >1000 records
     • List is halved each time so is more efficient than linear search
     • List needs to be sorted
     • Harder to program than linear search