theamethystdev

[theamethystdev]

What is a programming language?

Computers communicate in electrical signals, with an on signal representing 1 and an off representing 0. To communicate human to computer, we use programming languages that contain simple commands that are converted to machine language- 1’s and 0’s. This machine language is also known as binary.

How many programming languages are there?

There is no set answer to this question, as anybody can create a programming language. There are between several hundred and several thousand today. The languages we will discuss on this blog are widely known. Such languages include- C/C++, Java, Python, and different variations of HTML.

Why do we need programming languages?

Programming languages each have their own strengths and weaknesses. To properly communicate with computers, we use a multitude of languages. In a simplified example, a webpage can be written in HTML and later given a more professional look with CSS. After perfecting the “look” of a page, we can use JavaScript to provide animation and more dynamic features. Each language has its unique purpose, and they can work together to create amazing products. It’s uncommon for a project to contain only one language; therefore, it is important to grasp the concepts of programming languages, so that we can work with multiple languages in the same project.

How are they created?

Programming languages are essentially sets of instructions meant to be translated into machine language. They contain many features that make this possible. These tools include the language and its commands, along with an interpreter, or compiler. Languages are difficult to craft and maintain. This means that languages are constantly evolving. It is important to recognize that programming is a skill that requires constant learning and discovery.

Which one should I learn?

Before learning a language, you should consider what your purpose is for learning. If you are wanting to start with an easy language, there are plenty of beginner languages, or even languages that just read easily. I’ve always found that Python and Java are easy to pick up for the first time or go back to if it’s been a while. If you are looking to learn programming so you can go into industry several languages form the backbone of industrial software such as the variations of C including C# (pronounced See Sharp), C++ (See Plus Plus), and many more. When determining the language, you want to learn, you should do some research on why the language was created, whether it is maintained, and the difficulty level of implementing said language. For the first few posts on this page, I will be going over C++ as it is frequently used in industry. C++ can be an intimidating language, but like most languages it uses the same base commands and techniques.