Computer programming languages are classified into several generations based on their power and flexibility. These are referred to as 1GL, 2GL, 3GL, 4GL and 5GL.
First Generation Languages, also known as machine languages, are the lowest level programming languages. They are completely translation free and can be directly executed by the computer system.
1. Easier to learn
The first generation programming languages were very difficult to learn and required a lot of time and effort to learn. They were also very prone to errors and needed a lot of attention to ensure that the program worked properly.
The third generation languages are easier to learn than the previous two generations and they allow a programmer to concentrate on the logic of the program without taking into account the internal architecture of the computer system. This makes the program easier to develop and maintain.
These are also known as non-procedural languages. A procedural language tells the computer how a task is to be done: add this, compare that, do this if something is true, and so on.
2. Easier to maintain
There are five generations of computer programming languages. The first generation is machine language, also known as low-level.
Machine language requires a lot of knowledge about the way a particular computer works, and it can be difficult to write. It is a very tedious and time-consuming method of programming.
As the need for more efficient programs grew, developers began to develop new, easier-to-use programming languages. The most common type of these are called assembly languages, which logically represent machine language instructions.
Second-generation languages, or 2GLs, are a form of assembly language that use symbolic notation to write program instructions. They are often easier to read and understand than first-generation languages, but require a compiler or interpreter. They are also more portable than programs written in first-generation languages.
3. Easier to port
First generation programming languages (also known as machine language) are very much adapted to a specific computer and CPU. This makes porting code difficult in comparison to higher level languages.
The second generation appeared with programming languages that completely substituted machine code. Programs developed in these languages were incredibly faster than programs written in first generation language.
The third generation of programming languages is more machine-independent and programmer-friendly. These are considered high-level languages because they allow programmers to focus on the logic of the program without having to worry about details such as system architecture and hardware.
4. Easier to learn
Programming languages have been classified into several generations. These classifications are not always precise.
First-generation language programs are straight machine code, which is tied to a specific system architecture. They are human readable but require a compiler or interpreter to generate the machine code.
Second-generation languages are abstracted machine code, such as assembly language, that is not tied to a specific system architecture and can be programmed in a variety of ways. They are compiled or interpreted into machine code and can be more efficient than programs written in first-generation languages.
Third-generation programming languages are high-level computer languages that often provide a greater range of features than those in previous generations. They also tend to be easier to learn than other programming languages, which makes them more suitable for a wider range of applications.
5. Easier to maintain
First-generation computer programming languages, also called machine language or native languages, are straight machine code that can be directly executed by a computer. These programs are translation free and can be written quickly.
However, this type of programming can be hard to maintain if you make mistakes. This is because these programs are written in a string of binary digits, which makes it hard to find errors.
Second-generation programming languages, or assembly languages, abstract machine-language instructions and are tied to a particular system architecture. These are more human-readable than machine languages, but they still require a programmer to think on the machine’s level. They also have a harder time being ported to other machines.
