This week’s topics
Machine code, assembly and high-level languages: abstraction and its trade-offs
- Machine code vs. assembly vs. high-level languages: abstraction, its advantages and trade-offs
- Role of assembly in computer systems
What you will be able to do
- 5.1 Describe the role of assembly language in performing low-level computer operations.
- 5.3 Analyse how higher-level programming languages are abstracted from lower-level languages and the benefits of doing so.
Activity
Start with this week’s 4 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: describe the role of assembly language in performing low-level computer operations.
Study materials
Videos
- High and low level languages · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
- Assembly language · Oak National Academy, Key Stage 4 (GCSE level) · for registered students
- Low Level and High Level Programming Languages · YouTube · Computing @ Boston College UK · 9 min · for registered students
- C_02 Low level vs High level Languages | Machine and Assembly Language | Programming in C · YouTube · Jenny's Lectures CS IT · 14 min · for registered students
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 and the procedural and object-oriented paradigms, pp. 144–155 · for registered students
- Introduction to Computer Science, 7.4: Programming Language Implementation · PDF · OpenStax Introduction to Computer Science (2024), 7.4: compilers, interpreters and running programs, pp. 340–346 · for registered students
- An empirical comparison of seven programming languages · Open-access article · Prechelt (2000), IEEE Computer. Compares C, C++, Java, Perl, Python and others on run time, memory and development time. · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
