Programming Language / Nursing Informatics Reading & Sharing

All computer software is written in a specific programming language.

Programming languages have been divided into five separate generations based on how close they mimic human language.

• The first generation is binary.
  • Binary is machine language made up of two symbols that signify off (0) and on (1)

 

• Assembler language is the second generation
  • Assembler language uses English letters and symbols but relates them directly to binary.

 

• Third generation programming languages: FORTRAN, COBOL, Java, and Visual BASIC
  • FORTRAN and COBOL are procedural languages that require the user to specify both the exact procedure to be carried out as well the data involved.
  • Java is used for internet content and Visual BASIC is a visual programming language

 

• Fourth generation languages: allow users to choose procedures from a menu instead of having to specify them with code.
  • Structured query language (SQL) is a fourth generation programming language
    • uses syntax similar to human language to access, manipulate, and retrieve data from relational database management systems, which store data in tables
    • Language elements of SQL include the following:
      • Clauses: from, where, group by, having, and order by
      • Expressions: produce scales and tables
      • Predicates: three-valued logic (null, true, false) and Boolean truth values
      • Queries: require a SELECT  statement
      • Statements: includes the semicolon (to terminate a statement)
    • American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization have adopted SQL

 

• The fifth generation languages: is hoped that people will be able to speak directly to computers and have them carry out the verbal commands.

 

The five logical steps involved in computer programming:

1. Problem definition
2. Program desing
3. Program preparation
4. Program testing
5. Program implementation