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The First Programming Languages: Crash Course Computer Science #11
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The First Programming Languages: Crash Course Computer Science #11

Introduction to Software

In this section, we will explore the concept of software and its importance in programming. We will discuss how software provides a more versatile way to program computers compared to hardware.

Programming at the Hardware Level

  • Programming at the hardware level is cumbersome and inflexible.
  • Programmers wanted a more versatile way to program computers, leading to the development of software.

Machine Language or Machine Code

  • Computer processors natively speak machine language or machine code, which consists of raw binary instructions.
  • Early programmers had to write entire programs in machine code, which was time-consuming and error-prone.

Assembly Language and Assemblers

  • Assembly languages were developed as slightly higher-level languages that were more human-readable than machine code.
  • Assembly instructions are converted into corresponding binary instructions by assemblers.
  • Assemblers also handle jump addresses and allow programmers to use labels instead.

Moving Up Another Level of Abstraction

  • Assembly languages still rely on a one-to-one mapping with machine code and are tied to underlying hardware.
  • Dr. Grace Hopper recognized the limitations of assembly language and worked towards developing higher-level programming languages.

Higher-Level Languages

In this section, we will delve into higher-level programming languages and their advantages over assembly language. We will also discuss Dr. Grace Hopper's contributions in this field.

Advantages of Higher-Level Languages

  • Higher-level languages are more human-readable compared to assembly language.
  • They provide simpler syntax and abstract away low-level details, making programming easier.

Dr. Grace Hopper's Contributions

  • Dr. Grace Hopper was one of the first programmers on the Harvard Mark 1 computer.
  • She recognized the need for higher-level languages and worked towards their development.

The Role of Assemblers and Abstraction

In this section, we will explore the role of assemblers in converting assembly language into machine code. We will also discuss how abstraction allows programmers to focus on programming rather than underlying mechanics.

Assemblers

  • Assemblers convert programs written in assembly language into native machine code.
  • They handle jump addresses and allow the use of labels instead.

Abstraction

  • Abstraction hides unnecessary complexity and enables more sophisticated programming.
  • Moving up levels of abstraction allows programmers to focus on higher-level concepts rather than low-level details.

Limitations of Assembly Language

In this section, we will discuss the limitations of assembly language and its close ties to underlying hardware. We will also highlight the challenges faced by programmers when dealing with registers and memory locations.

One-to-One Mapping with Machine Code

  • Assembly language instructions have a one-to-one mapping with machine instructions.
  • This tight coupling makes assembly language inherently tied to the underlying hardware.

Challenges with Registers and Memory Locations

  • Programmers need to explicitly specify which registers and memory locations to use in assembly language.
  • Adding or modifying values may require significant changes throughout the code.

Dr. Grace Hopper's Contributions

In this section, we will further explore Dr. Grace Hopper's contributions in computer programming, particularly her work on the Harvard Mark 1 computer during World War II.

Dr. Grace Hopper's Role

  • Dr. Grace Hopper was one of the first programmers on the Harvard Mark 1 computer.
  • She played a crucial role in developing programs for this electro-mechanical beast during World War II.

Conclusion

In conclusion, software provides a more versatile way to program computers compared to hardware. Assembly languages and assemblers bridge the gap between high-level languages and machine code, allowing for easier programming and abstraction. Dr. Grace Hopper's contributions in developing higher-level languages have greatly influenced the field of computer programming.

New Section

This section discusses the development of high-level programming languages and the introduction of compilers.

Development of High-Level Programming Languages

  • Grace Hopper designed a high-level programming language called "Arithmetic Language Version 0" or A-0, which allowed for easier programming compared to assembly languages.
  • Assembly languages have a direct mapping to machine instructions, while high-level programming languages can result in multiple instructions being executed by the CPU for a single line of code.
  • To address this complexity, Hopper built the first compiler in 1952. A compiler is a specialized program that translates source code written in a high-level language into low-level languages like assembly or machine code.

New Section

This section explores the initial skepticism towards high-level programming languages and the subsequent proliferation of new programming languages.

Skepticism Towards High-Level Programming Languages

  • Despite the potential benefits of easier programming, many people were skeptical of Hopper's idea that computers could do more than just arithmetic calculations.
  • Efforts were soon underway to develop new programming languages, leading to hundreds of different languages today.

New Section

This section compares assembly code with modern high-level programming languages using Python as an example.

Abstraction in Modern Programming Languages

  • Unlike assembly code that requires dealing with low-level details such as registers and memory locations, modern high-level programming languages abstract away these complexities through compilers.
  • Programmers can use variables to represent memory locations and perform operations without needing to know about the underlying hardware implementation. The compiler takes care of translating these abstractions into low-level instructions.

New Section

This section highlights the impact of high-level programming languages like FORTRAN and the trade-off between computation time and programmer time.

Impact of High-Level Programming Languages

  • FORTRAN, released in 1957, became widely used due to its ability to write shorter programs compared to assembly code.
  • Although there were concerns about performance, the ability to write more code quickly made it economically favorable.
  • Initially, programming languages and compilers were specific to certain computer types, requiring code rewriting when upgrading computers.

New Section

This section discusses the formation of a consortium in 1959 to develop a common programming language that could be used across different machines.

Development of Common Programming Language (COBOL)

  • The Committee on Data Systems Languages was formed in 1959 with Grace Hopper's guidance to create a common programming language usable on different machines.
  • COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) was developed as an easy-to-use high-level language that could be compiled on various computing architectures.
  • The concept of "write once, run anywhere" emerged, allowing the same COBOL source code to be compiled and executed on different computers.

New Section

This section emphasizes how high-level programming languages reduced computing's barrier to entry and made it accessible for various professionals.

Accessibility and Abstraction in Computing

  • High-level programming languages reduced computing's barrier to entry by enabling scientists, engineers, doctors, economists, teachers, and others to incorporate computation into their work.
  • Abstraction in programming allowed professional programmers to create sophisticated programs more efficiently, replacing the need for millions of lines of assembly code.

New Section

This section provides an overview of the evolution of programming languages from the 1960s to the present day.

Evolution of Programming Languages

  • In the 1960s, languages like ALGOL, LISP, and BASIC were developed.
  • The 1970s introduced Pascal, C, and Smalltalk.
  • The 1980s saw the emergence of C++, Objective-C, and Perl.
  • In the 1990s, Python, Ruby, and Java became popular.
  • The new millennium witnessed the rise of Swift, C#, and Go as programming languages.

New Section

This section highlights how high-level programming languages have made computing accessible and mentions that many web browsers are written in C++.

Impact on Computing Accessibility

  • High-level programming languages transformed computing from a cumbersome and esoteric discipline into a general-purpose tool accessible to various professionals.
  • Many web browsers today are written in C++, showcasing the continued relevance and impact of high-level programming languages.

New Section

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of programming languages and the desire for a system that allows users to communicate with computers using plain English.

The Holy Grail of Programming Languages

  • Many people consider the "holy grail" of programming to be the ability to use plain English to communicate with computers.
  • This would involve speaking what you want the computer to do, and it would figure it out and execute it.
  • However, this kind of intelligent system is currently science fiction.

New Section

The speaker mentions that fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey may be content with the current state of programming languages. They also mention that upcoming episodes will delve deeper into programming languages and their applications.

Programming Languages Deep Dive

  • Fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey may be satisfied with the current state of programming languages.
  • Future episodes will explore programming languages in more detail.
  • The goal is to enhance understanding of how programming languages are used to create software for impressive purposes.

New Section

The speaker concludes by mentioning CuriosityStream, a streaming service that offers documentaries and non-fiction titles. They recommend a series called "Digits" hosted by Derek Muller.

CuriosityStream Recommendation

  • CuriosityStream is a streaming service filled with documentaries and non-fiction titles from renowned filmmakers.
  • The speaker recommends watching "Digits," a series hosted by Derek Muller that explores various aspects of the internet, including its origins, Internet of Things, ethical hacking, and special guest appearances.
  • CuriosityStream offers unlimited access starting at $2.99 per month.

Timestamps were not available for all sections.

Playlists: Computer Science
Video description

Get your first two months of CuriosityStream free by going to http://curiositystream.com/crashcourse and using the promo code “crashcourse”. So we ended last episode with programming at the hardware level with things like plugboards and huge panels of switches, but what was really needed was a more versatile way to program computers - software! For much of this series we’ve been talking about machine code, or the 1’s and 0’s our computers read to perform operations, but giving our computers instructions in 1’s and 0’s is incredibly inefficient, and a “higher-level” language was needed. This led to the development of assembly code and assemblers that allow us to use operands and mnemonics to more easily write programs, but assembly language is still tied to underlying hardware. So by 1952 Navy officer Grace Hopper had helped created the first high-level programming language A-0 and compiler to translate that code to our machines. This would eventually lead to IBM’s Fortran and then a golden age of computing languages over the coming decades. Most importantly, these new languages utilized new abstractions to make programming easier and more powerful giving more and more people the ability to create new and amazing things. Produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios: http://youtube.com/pbsdigitalstudios Want to know more about Carrie Anne? https://about.me/carrieannephilbin The Latest from PBS Digital Studios: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1mtdjDVOoOqJzeaJAV15Tq0tZ1vKj7ZV Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet? Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrash... Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourse Tumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourse CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids