Thiès University Mister KN

Computer Science Department, Year 1, 2019

Computer Programming Languages

Computer programming languages allow us to give instructions to a computer in a language the

computer understands. There are many computer programming languages that programmers can use
to communicate with a computer. The portion of the language that a computer can understand is called
a “binary.” Translating programming language into binary is known as “compiling.”
Below is a compilation of 12 important programming languages used in the industry today.

1) Python

Python is an advanced programming language that is interpreted, object-oriented and built on flexible
and robust semantics. It was developed in the late 1980s at CWI in the Netherlands and first released to
the public in 1991.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o Python developers, software engineers, back end developers, Python programmers
o Employers in information technology, engineering, professional services and design
• Major Organizations: Google, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, DropBox, NASA, ESRI
• Specializations and Industries: Web and Internet development (frameworks, micro-frameworks and
advanced content management systems); scientific and numeric computing; desktop graphical user
interfaces (GUIs)

2) Java

Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented, high-level programming language with several features that
make it ideal for web-based development. Originally known as Oak, it was developed in 1990 at Sun
Microsystems to add capabilities to the C++ language. It was developed according to the principle of
WORA (Write Once Run Anywhere). The language was introduced to the public in 1995 and is now
owned by Oracle.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o Software engineers, Java developers
o Employers in communications, education, finance, health sciences, hospitality, retail and
utilities
• Major Organizations: V2COM, Eclipse Information Technologies, eBay, Eurotech
• Specializations and Industries: Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Architecture, Cloud
Computing

3) Ruby/Ruby on Rails

Ruby is an open-sourced, object-oriented scripting language that can be used independently or as part
of the Ruby on Rails web framework.
WHO USES IT?
• Professions and Industries:
o Ruby on Rails developers, software engineers, data science engineers

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 o Employers in technology, engineering, professional services, design, science and quality
control
• Major Organizations: Github, Scribd, Groupon, NASA Langley Research Center, Blue Sequence
(part of Toyota Motor Manufacturing), Motorola, Google (SketchUp)
• Specializations and Industries: Web App Development, Robotics, Networking, System HTML

4) HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

HTML is the standard markup language used to create web pages; it ensures proper formatting of text
and images so that Internet browsers can display them in the ways they were intended to look. It was
created by physicist Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 to allow scientists to share documents online.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o Web developers, technical editors, email designers, software engineers
o Employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional Services,
Management, Marketing, Customer Services and Sales
• Major Organizations: Apple, CyberCoders, Apex Systems, CareerBuilder
• Specializations and Industries Where HTML is Used Most: Web Development, Email
Programming

5) JavaScript

JavaScript is a client-side programming language that runs inside a client browser and processes
commands on a computer rather than a server. It is commonly placed into an HTML or ASP file. Despite
its name, JavaScript is not related to Java. JavaScript was designed by Netscape and originally known
as LiveScript, before becoming JavaScript in 1995.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o JavaScript developers, Web developers, software engineers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Marketing, Finance and
Healthcare
• Major Organizations: WordPress, Soundcloud, Khan Academy, Linkedin, Groupon, Yahoo and
many others
• Specializations and Industries Where JavaScript is Used Most: Front End Website Development,
Gaming Development

6) C Language

C Language is a structure-oriented, middle-level programming language mostly used to develop low-

level applications. The C Language was developed in 1972 at Bell Labs specifically for implementing
the UNIX system.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
Software developers, computer engineers, business and systems analysts, IT and Web content
o
administrators, embedded software engineers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Management, Healthcare and
Professional Services
• Major Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Cisco, Raytheon

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 • Specializations and Industries Where C Language is Used Most: Embedded Systems, Systems
Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Automation, Computer Graphics, Space Research,
Image Processing and Game Programming

7) C++

C++ is a general purpose, object-oriented, middle-level programming language and is an extension of

C language, which makes it possible to code C++ in a “C style”. In some situations, coding can be
done in either format, making C++ an example of a hybrid language. It was released in 1983.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o C++ software engineers, C++ software developers, embedded engineers, programmer analysts
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Professional Services, Design,
Quality Control and Management
• Major Company and Organization Users: Google, Mozilla, Firefox, Winamp, Adobe Software,
Amazon, Lockheed Martin
• Specializations: System/Application Software, Drivers, Client-Server Applications, Embedded
Firmware

8) C#

Pronounced C-sharp (not C-hashtag), C# is a multi-paradigm programming language that features

strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented and component-oriented
disciplines. It was developed in 2000 as part of Microsoft’s release of .NET framework; in 2003 it
became an ISO standard.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o C# developers, automation test engineers, software engineers, senior .net Web developers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional Services,
Management and Quality Control
• Major Organizations: Microsoft Intel, Hewlett Packard
• Specializations: Windows-based platforms

9) Objective-C

Objective-C is a simple, general-purpose and object-oriented language. It uses a system of message

passing borrowed from the language Smalltalk; when an object in Objective-C is sent a message, it can
choose to ignore or forward to another object, rather than return a value. Objective-C was developed at
Apple in 1983 to address deficiencies (specifically lack of object-orientation) in C language. It was
licensed by NeXT in 1988.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o IT and Web content administrators, iOS and Android mobile developers, software engineers
o Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Management, Healthcare and Design
• Major Organizations: Apple, CyberCoders
• Specializations: Software development

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 10) PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)

PHP is an open-source scripting language designed for creating dynamic web pages that effectively
work with databases. It is also used as a general-purpose programming language. PHP was released in
1995 as a server-side scripting language, which is processed on a server to become a website in plain
HTML.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o PHP developers, PHP software engineers
o Used across industries, to include Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional
Services, Healthcare, Management and Finance
• Major Organizations: Facebook, Yahoo, CyberCoders, NextGen
• Specializations Where PHP is Used Most: Web Application Development, Server-Side Scripting,
Command Line Scripting

11) SQL (Structured Query Language)

SQL is a database query language (not a development language) that allows for adding, accessing and
managing content in a database. It is the language that allows programmers to perform the common
acronym CRUD (Create; Read; Update; Delete) within a database. SQL was developed at the IBM
Research Center in 1974 and originally known as SEQUEL. The first commercial version was introduced
in 1979 by ORACLE.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o SQL server developers, database testers, software developers, database administrators
o Used across industries like Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Management,
Professional Servers, Business and Finance
• Major Organizations: SQL is used by most companies and organizations that gather data.
Examples include Robert Half Technology, Nigel Frank, CyberCoders and UnitedHealthCare.
• Specializations Where SQL is Used Most: Data Analysis and Big Data Mining

12) Swift

Swift is Apple’s newest open-source, multi-paradigm programming language for iOS and OS X apps.
Swift integrates Objective-C’s named parameters and object-oriented model, while including an
advanced compiler, debugger and framework infrastructure. Swift, which is based off of the Objective-C
programming language, was introduced at Apple’s 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
The newest version, Swift 2, was released as an open-source language in 2015.
Who uses it?
• Professions and Industries:
o Swift Platform Developers, iOS Mobile Application Developers, Software Developers, Senior
Programmers, Data Engineers
o Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Management and Professional Services
• Major Organizations: Apple, Getty Images, Slack, Dow Jones, Playlist Media
• Specializations Where Swift is Used Most: Software development

Adapted from https://www.computerscience.org/resources/computer-programming-languages/

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 Computer Programming Vocabulary

A B

Automate to make something happen automatically (without help from people)

Computational a set of problem-solving skills that helps computer scientists prepare problems
Thinking for digital solutions

Pattern a theme that is repeated many times

Procedural language any programming language that is based on a step-by-step approach to solving a
problem

PHP (PHP Hypertext a high-level, interpreted programming language written by Rasmus Lerdorf in
Preprocessor) 1995 and aimed mainly at web developers creating dynamic applications

Decompose to break a hard problem up into smaller, easier ones

Object-oriented using a methodology which enables a system to be modeled as a set of

Programming objects which can be controlled and manipulated in a modular manner.

Debugging fixing the problems in your code

Statement a directive that tells the computer to do something; a command

Boolean an expression that is either true or false ; uses terms like “and,” “or,” “not”

Embedded or Nested A statement inside another statement

Statement

Syntax rules governing the structure of a programming language

Algorithm a list of steps that allow you to complete a task; such as a recipe to prepare a dish

Parallel Execution launching two threads / stacks of blocks at the same time

Increment To add a certain amount (often 1) once or many times

Decrement To subtract a certain amount (often 1), once or many times

Loop a structure that allows running a sequence multiple times

Definite or Counted executes a specific number of times as set by a control variable

Loop

Repeat Loop executes a group of statements repeatedly

Iteration one execution of a loop; repeating a process with the aim of approaching a
desired goal

x- position position along the horizontal axis

y-position position along the vertical axis

Compiler a special program that translates the programming language to machine

language

Elegant code concise, clean, and clear code which allows other developers to understand and
extend it