2. First Generation
The first generation language was the Machine
Language , which was used in the earliest
computers.
Computers use only signals in the form of ON and
OFF, hence they recognize two binary codes which
are 0 and 1.
Machine Language also known as computer’s own
language because it directly understands this
system of code.
3. It had high speed .
Translators were not used.
Was machine dependent.
Complex language.
Error prone(was full of errors).
Tedious (was time taking)
4. Second generation
In the second generation, assembly language was
used and was developed in 1950s and its main
developer was IBM.
Programmer can easily interact directly with the
hardware using the assembly language.
Assembly language allocates a mnemonic code to
each instruction in the machine language for
making it easier to write.
A computer can only understand machine
language , so assemblers are introduced to
translate the assembly language into machine
language.
5. Easy to use & more understandable than
machine language.
Less error prone than machine language.
Efficient than machine language.
More control on hardware.
Was machine dependent
Harder to learn.
Slow development time
No support for modern software technology.
6. Third Generation
1960s: the beginning of third generation
programming languages.
Languages such as BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN & C
are third generation high level languages.
However, a computer can only understand
machine language and a translator such as
Compiler and Interpreter.
7. Readability(read and writing the program).
Easy debugging(removing errors).
Easier to maintain.
Low development cost.
Easy documentation.
Poor control on hardware.
Less efficient.
8. QBASIC: Its full form is Quick Beginner’s All-Purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code.
In 1964, the original BASIC came into use , which
helped non-science students in accessing computers.
In 1970s and 80s , BASIC came in use
microcomputers.
It allowed development small business applications.
Hence it was broadly used for business purposes.
9. COBOL:
Common Business Oriented Language is one of the
oldest programming languages, initially developed by
Grace Hopper.
Mainly used in business, finance and administration
sector of companies and governments.
The COBOL (2002) standard supports object-oriented
programming and various other new features for
different languages.
10. FORTRAN:
The IBM mathematical FormulaTranslating System
is a general purpose, high level language that is
developed for numeric and scientific
computations.
Ibm developed FORTRAN in 1950s for scientific
and engineering purposes.
It was used various fields , such as weather
prediction, computational physics and chemistry.
This language is meant for high performance
computing.
11. C++:
C was developed in 1978 and became the most
popular programming languages within a very short
span of time.
It had various problems during its usage, to overcome
these a new programming language was developed
by Bjarne Stroustrup at AT&T Bell Labs in early 1980.
This language is the improved version of the C -
language with some additional features made possible
by using the concept of C. Later on this language came
to be popularly known as C++.
12. JAVA:
In the year 1991 a team of programmers with the
objective of developing an object oriented
programming language made a very simple, portable
and reliable innovation called the Oak or Java
programming language.
It features are:
Object-oriented
Platform independent
A combination of interpreter and compiler.
Good performance
Built-in networking
