Assignment 3: Research on Programming Languages

Why did we move from punch cards to programming languages?

Punch cards were slow, hard to edit, and easy to mess up. Programming languages made it easier for humans to write instructions that the computer could understand. Their purpose is to help people explain ideas clearly without worrying about 1s and 0s.

Why are there so many programming languages?

Different jobs need different tools

• Some are for speed (C, C++)
• Some are easy to use (Python)
• Some are for special tasks (SQL for databases)
• Technology keeps changing so new languages are made

What are some drawbacks of a language you use?

Python is easy but:

• It is slow for heavy tasks
• Package management is confusing
• Errors show up only when you run the program

I would like Python to be faster, simpler for installing packages, and stricter with errors.

If you were going to create a new programming language, how would you start?

I would first decide the purpose of the language. Then I would define the rules, type system, and syntax. Finally, I would build a compiler or interpreter and add simple tools so people can use it easily.