Why do programmers avoid making a universal programming language?

Turing, a web development and software recruitment company, references the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projection that the demand for software developers will increase by 22% between 2022 and 2030 – compared to just 4% for other careers.

If you want to join the next generation of software developers and computer science specialists – and carve out a new career in a high-growth sector – skills and expertise in commonly used programming languages is vital.

What are programming languages?

Programming languages are notations which instruct computers and different types of software to perform specific tasks. They are used to control their performance, acting as bridge between human-readable instructions and machine-level instructions.

There are numerous different programming languages – with new programming languages being created all the time, each with its own syntax, semantics and standard library for writing code. The major types of language include:

• procedural programming languages – which use code in a step-wise procedure to solve problems. Examples include Java, Pascal, C and BASIC.
• functional programming languages – which use pure, high-order, mathematical functions to perform computations. Examples include Haskell, Elixir, Scala and F#.
• object-oriented programming (OOP) languages – which use self-contained code, or ‘objects’, to structure software into straightforward, reusable code blueprints’. Examples include Python, PHP, Ruby and C++.
• scripting languages – which use interpretation rather than compilation to issues instructions in a run-time environment. Examples include Perl, bash, Node.js and PHP.
• logic programming languages – which use a series of logical facts and rules to instruct computer systems. Examples include Datalog, Alma-0, Absys and Prolog.

Javascript is the most commonly used programming language among software developers around the world – but it certainly isn’t the only one. Other popular languages include:

• Lisp
• Fortran
• Linux
• Rust – named developers’ most admired language by Stack Overflow
• Microsoft Visual Basic
• R
• SQL
• Kotlin
• COBOL.

Each has its own advantages and applications, meaning that there are languages for all use cases – whether a programmer is building virtual reality software, automating tasks, running algorithms, developing a video game, or defining data structures.

There are two types of programming language classification: low-level and high-level. Lower-level languages more closely resemble machine code, known as binary. While they can be more challenging for humans to read, they offer extremely precise, fast functioning. 

Higher-level languages use source code that more closely resembles human language using words such as ‘run’, ‘order’, and ‘request’. They make for easier programming, more time is needed to translate into machine code for the computer to understand.

Programming languages can also be front-end or back-end. Languages whose primary concern is the user experience – including images, buttons, navigation and colour palette on web pages and apps – are front-end; languages which focus on the server aspect of software – including databases, scripting, data architecture and application communication – are back-end.

Why isn’t there a universal programming language?

There are several advantages related to creating a universal programming language. These include simplified learning, code portability, resource consolidation, greater collaboration and innovation, standardisation, and interoperability – where seamless integration exists between various systems and softwares.

So, why doesn’t a universal programming language already exist? Could all the best features of existing programming languages be combined into a single, general-purpose, universal language?

The trouble is, alongside its potential benefits, a universal programming language could bring with it a number of significant downsides:

• Limited innovation. Currently, innovation is born of the competition that exists between different programming languages and language design. If there exists only a single language, innovation and advancement could suffer, leading to a stagnation of ideas and progress.
• Poor compatibility. Any universal programming language would still be required to communicate and interact with existing codebases and legacy systems that are written in different languages. As such, developers would need to maintain these older languages and ensure integration, requiring time, effort and money.
• Reduced diversity. The beauty of having such a diverse range of programming languages is that they are optimised for different tasks and applications: an individual can select the language that best suits their specific needs. Only having access to a single language could mean that tailored suitability and specialisation is lost, and individuals cannot use the best tool for the job.
• Resistance. It’s no straightforward task for developers and programming communities to switch to a brand-new programming language – including all the learning, time and potential challenges it could bring – and there may be widespread resistance to change.

What is the difference between assembly code and machine code?

Assembly code and machine code are both classified as low-level programming languages, and both are used to communicate with the central processing unit (CPU) of computer systems. However, there are some key differences between the two.

Human readability is the first major point of difference. While assembly code relies on symbolic representation of machine code – using symbols and mnemonics that humans find easier to understand, machine code uses binary instructional representations that are not readable by humans.

They also differ in terms of portability. Assembly language, which is slightly architecture-specific, can be modified to interact with diverse CPU architectures. Machine language, on the other hand, is more challenging to port between different architectures.

In terms of debugging, assembly code makes life easier as it uses symbolic instructional representations and supports comments and labels. Machine code lacks human-readable mnemonics, and debugging requires specialist tools.

Which is easier when it comes to programming? A level of abstraction, above raw machine code, means programmers find it easier to write and understand assembly code. Machine code is highly complex – and prone to errors – involving memory management and binary figures.

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