Every Programming Language Ever Explained in 15 Minutes

Summary

This video script offers a historical journey through the evolution of programming languages, starting with assembly language's direct hardware interaction and moving through time to modern languages like Python and Swift. It highlights key languages such as Fortran, COBOL, Lisp, and C, emphasizing their unique features and contributions to fields like scientific computing, business, and web development. The script also touches on the significance of high-level languages for ease of learning and the enduring utility of low-level languages for performance. It concludes with a nod to the future, showcasing languages designed for specific tasks in data analysis, mobile app development, and blockchain technology.

Takeaways

• 💻 Assembly is a low-level programming language that allows humans to communicate with computer hardware using an assembler to translate code into binary.
• 🚀 Fortran, created by IBM in the 1950s, was one of the first high-level languages and was used for scientific computing.
• 📊 COBOL, or Common Business-Oriented Language, was designed for business and finance applications and is still used today for transaction processing.
• 🔢 Lisp, known for its extensive use of parentheses, was an innovative language that inspired many concepts in programming.
• 🔤 BASIC was designed to be easy to learn and was one of the first programming languages aimed at the general public.
• 🎨 Logo introduced the concept of 'turtle graphics' for educational purposes, allowing users to draw geometric shapes with code.
• 📱 C, developed in the 1970s, is a widely-used language that forms the basis of many operating systems and has influenced numerous other languages.
• 🌐 JavaScript, despite its name, is not related to Java and is primarily used for web development, handling the interactive aspects of websites.
• 📈 Python is a versatile, high-level language that's popular for AI, web development, and data analysis, known for its ease of learning.
• 📚 Ruby, similar to Python, is often used with the Ruby on Rails framework to create full-stack web applications.

Q & A

What is assembly language and why was it created?

Assembly language is a low-level programming language that allows humans to give instructions to a computer's hardware. It was created to make computer instructions more workable for humans by using an assembler that translates the human-readable code into binary code, which computers understand.

How does Fortran differ from assembly language?

Fortran is a high-level language, which is easier to understand and has more support, but its code is slower compared to assembly language. Assembly language allows more direct manipulation of computer memory and executes faster, but it is harder to learn.

What was the purpose of creating COBOL and in what year was it developed?

COBOL, standing for Common Business-Oriented Language, was developed in 1959 for businesses. It was designed to process transactions and is still used today by many financial institutions.

What is the significance of the programming language Lisp and what is its notable feature?

Lisp, also known as List Processing, is known for its innovative use of parentheses in its code. It was created soon after Fortran and is significant for inspiring many concepts in programming.

How does the programming language Simula contribute to the field of programming?

Simula is one of the world's first object-oriented programming languages. It introduced the concept of reusable code blocks called objects, which can interact with each other, a fundamental concept in modern programming.

What was the primary use of the programming language BASIC when it was created?

BASIC, or Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, was created at Dartmouth in 1963 with the purpose of enabling the average layperson to learn how to code, making programming more accessible.

Why is the programming language SQL important for database management?

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is crucial for database management because it allows for the creation and management of databases. It uses a table structure with rows and columns to store information, similar to an Excel spreadsheet.

What is the relationship between C++ and the original C programming language?

C++ is an extension of the C programming language, with the major difference being that C++ supports object-oriented programming, unlike the original C, which did not.

How does Python stand out among other programming languages?

Python is a general-purpose programming language known for its versatility and ease of learning. It is popular for creating AI, web development, and data analysis, and is often the first language learned by beginners.

What is the primary use of the programming language Java and what makes it unique?

Java is used to create platform-independent programs, such as video games and mobile apps on Android. Its unique feature is that it can be compiled into bytecode, which can be run on any device with a Java runtime environment.

What is the main advantage of the programming language Rust over C++?

Rust is considered a modern version of C++ and is known for its ability to write simple code while also handling memory issues effectively. It is popular for applications where performance is critical.