The reason we moved from punch cards to high-level programming languages is because of the need for greater efficiency and ease of use. Punch cards were error-prone, requiring a lot of manual handling and complex physical operations to program. High-level languages, on the other hand, have more accessible syntax that turns complex machine instructions into human-readable form. This made programming more intuitive, hence improving productivity.
The reason we have so many programming languages is because of the diverse needs of software development and the continuous evolution of needs in today’s world. Each language is designed to address specific tasks or needs. Different languages offer varying balances between performance, ease of use, fine control over hardware, rapid development, and readability.
Python has some notable drawbacks. Its interpreted nature makes it slower compared to compiled languages like C++, which can be problematic for applications that value performance. Python’s dynamic typing and garbage collection can also lead to memory management issues and runtime errors, complicating debugging and performance optimization.
Creating a new programming language involves several key steps. First, define the objectives and specific problems the language aims to address, such as improving on existing language limitations. Next, design the language's syntax to ensure it is functional. Develop a compiler to translate the language's code into executable instructions for the machine. Finally, test the language with real-world applications.