This week’s topics
What is programming? High- and low-level languages
- What a program is
- High-level and low-level languages
What you will be able to do
- 1.1 Differentiate between high-level and low-level languages.
Activity
Compare the same task in Python and in machine code.
Study materials
Further resources
- Introduction to Computer Science, 4.1: Models of Computation · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science (2024), 4.1 on machine code, assembly and high-level languages, pp. 144–155 · for registered students
- Introduction to Python Programming, 1.1: Background · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Python Programming (2024), 1.1: what a program is and why Python, pp. 8–9 · for registered students
- Think Python, ch. 1: The way of the program · PDF · Downey, Think Python 2e (Green Tea Press), ch. 1: what a program is; high-level vs low-level languages, pp. 1–8 · for registered students
- The two powers: how Pascal and Python shaped programming education · Open-access article · Kohn & Staub (2024), Informatics in Education. How teaching languages moved from Pascal to Python and why. · for registered students
- An empirical comparison of seven programming languages · Open-access article · Prechelt (2000), IEEE Computer. Compares high-level languages such as Python with C and C++ on speed and effort. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
