Reading Time: 3 minutes

The difference between a compiled and interpreted programming language:

  • Compiled languages are converted directly into machine code that the processor can execute.  A compiler will translate lines after the other, but they do not execute a line immediately after translation 
  • Interpreters run through a program line by line and execute each command,  As soon as a line of code is translated into machine code, it is executed.

What is a programming paradigm:

  • A paradigm is a way of doing something (like programming) but not a concrete thing (like a language)
  • Imperative: programming with an explicit sequence of commands that update state. 
  • Declarative: programming by specifying the result you want, not how to get it 
  • Structured: programming with clean, nested control structures etc.

High level programming languages:

  • JAVA – Java was created in 1995 at Sun Microsystems. It was originally  intended for cable boxes, then later developed into works for the World Wide Web. Java is considered a multi paradigm because it falls under generic, object oriented, functional, imperative, reflective, and concurrent. After Java was created  it began to grow beyond the web, powering devices such as cellular phones and computers. Java can be considered both a compiled and an interpreted language because it turns the source code into Bytecode. The byte-code then runs on something called “Java Virtual Machine” (JVM), which is then interpreted by a called the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).  The JRE then interprets Bytecode and translates it for the host computer. Java is incorporated in many online digital product such as Google; Google uses Java for many of its products, mainly for backend programming but also for user interface development.
  • C++ – C++ was created in 1983 at Bell labs. C++ is a general purpose programming language and it is considered a complier language that is used for both object-oriented and procedural programming. C++ is referred to as a multi-paradigm language because it can be used for procedural, object-oriented, or functional programming. C++ works very well for advanced apps, like photoshop because it is considered to be very fast. It is used in many online digital products including Google Chrome, Microsoft Office and YouTube. YouTube for example is written in a few different languages However, C++ was used for the most important and core function of this app, video processing. 
  • Visual Basic – VB was developed by Microsoft in 1991. It is known for compiling programs into pseudo-code. Using drawing tools that resemble those found in PhotoShop. Visual Basic can be considered to be an interpreted language with modifications to accommodate object oriented programming. VB programmers make user interfaces by drawing controls. The programmer then adds code to respond to user interactions with the controls, for example, drag and drop. The code can trigger events in other controls for example, displaying text or an image, executing procedures or almost anything else one might do in code.
  • JavaScript – Java Script was created by Brendan Eich in 1995 while he was at Netscape Communications Corporation. JavaScript lets you add functionality and behaviours to your website, allowing your website’s visitors to interact with content in many ways. Javascript is a high level, compiled language supporting functional and imperative programming styles. It is sometimes recognized for being used for Uber which needs to handle millions of requests every day coming in from drivers and customers.
  • Python –  Pyhton was created in 1991 by Guido van Rossum at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica.  Python is an interpreted high level language. Pyhton’s design emphasizes the readability of its code and its language constructs, as well as its object oriented approach. Python is used in the construction of Instagram, the world’s biggest online photo sharing app which uses Python on its backend. According to Instagram’s engineering team, Instagram currently features the world’s largest deployment of the Django web framework, which is written entirely in Python.