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programming language Last modified: Friday, February 08, 2002
A vocabulary and set of grammatical rules for instructing a computer to perform specific tasks. The term programming language usually refers to high-level languages, such as BASIC, C, C++, COBOL, FORTRAN, Ada, and Pascal. Each language has a unique set of keywords (words that it understands) and a special syntax for organizing program instructions. High-level programming languages, while simple compared to human languages, are more complex than the languages the computer actually understands, called machine languages. Each different type of CPU has its own unique machine language. Lying between machine languages and high-level languages are languages called assembly languages. Assembly languages are similar to machine languages, but they are much easier to program in because they allow a programmer to substitute names for numbers. Machine languages consist of numbers only. Lying above high-level languages are languages called fourth-generation languages (usually abbreviated 4GL). 4GLs are far removed from machine languages and represent the class of computer languages closest to human languages. Regardless of what language you use, you eventually need to convert your program into machine language so that the computer can understand it. There are two ways to do this: compile the program interpret the program See compile and interpreter for more information about these two methods. The question of which language is best is one that consumes a lot of time and energy among computer professionals. Every language has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, FORTRAN is a particularly good language for processing numerical data, but it does not lend itself very well to organizing large programs. Pascal is very good for writing well-structured and readable programs, but it is not as flexible as the C programming language. C++ embodies powerful object-oriented features, but it is complex and difficult to learn. The choice of which language to use depends on the type of computer the program is to run on, what sort of program it is, and the expertise of the programmer.
Programmer's Oasis  A complete, comprehensive and up-to-date collection of links to information on programming languages, FAQs and newsgroups, organizations and standards, developer companies and news, compilers and translators, operating system specific information, and software engineering. Introduction to common LISP  This introduction to common LISP features plenty of information for those who are just getting started. Particular features are online resources, CLOS, as well as information for more advanced users. C programming language This page explains some peculiarities of the C programming language in the form of a 'Top 10' list. Codepage 2.1 - Programming and Computer Science Index Large collection of sites, books, articles, and research labs for programming languages, methodologies, operating systems, software engineering, applications, and organizations. Yahoo!'s BASIC page Yahoo!'s directory of links for the BASIC programming language. Yahoo!'s IBM compatible programming languages page Yahoo!'s directory of IBM compatible programming languages. Yahoo!'s LISP page Yahoo!'s directory of LISP. Yahoo!'s Perl page Yahoo!'s directory of Perl. Yahoo!'s programming language page Yahoo!'s directory of links to programming languages. Yahoo!'s shareware for programming languages page Yahoo!'s directory of shareware for programming languages. Programming Language Research CMU collection of information and resources for research in programming language theory, design, implementation, and related areas. The Rexx language From IBM, this page provides information and links to Rexx, a procedural language that allows programs and algorithms to be written in a clear and structured way.There are links to documentation, FAQs, tutorials, and other Rexx information sites. Yahoo!'s Macintosh programming languages page Yahoo!'s directory of Macintosh programming languages.	Related Categories Programming Languages Related Terms Ada algorithm assembly language awk BASIC break-even point C C# C++ canonical COBOL compiler flow control fork FORTRAN fourth-generation language high-level language interpreter Java language LISP low-level language machine language Modula-2 object-oriented programming Pascal primitive Prolog Rexx Tcl VBScript Visual Basic Web services word