programming-for-dummies

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The Programming Language of the Future
For a playful introduction to robotics, buy a copy of Lego’s Mindstorms NXT
robotic kid, which lets you create a robot out of Legos and use the Lego
visual programming language to make your robot move.
Robotics combines mechanical engineering with computer science and artificial
intelligence. You can program a robot to learn, recognize spoken commands,
navigate around obstacles, and make decisions on its own given incomplete
information. While artificial intelligence often remains an academic exercise,
robotics lets you put artificial intelligence in a moving robot so you can see how
well your programs actually work. (A well-designed robot program might know
enough to avoid trying to roll down a staircase. A poorly designed robot program
might make the robot cheerfully roll off the top of a staircase and crash at
the bottom steps below.)
Robotics is a growing field with no clear-cut robotics language standard yet
to emerge. Who knows? With a little bit of creativity, you might be responsible
for creating the next standard in robotics programming.
The Programming Language of the Future
Although there will always be dominant programming languages, there will
never be a single perfect programming language because everyone’s needs and
preferences are different. Some people prefer C for its raw power and control,
whereas others prefer BASIC and other high-level languages for making programming
easier by hiding the technical details of manipulating the computer.
If you’re planning to learn programming, the only certainty is that the language
you learn today will likely not be the language you’ll be using tomorrow.
Low-level languages
The three most popular low-level languages are machine language, assembly
language, and C. Machine and assembly language are best for creating small,
fast programs. Machine language programs are often embedded in chips, such
as the ones inside your computer that help your computer boot up. Assembly
language is also used to create small, fast programs embedded in chips. The
main difference is that assembly language is easier to write, so it allows programmers
the ability to write more complicated programs than if they use
machine language. The C language is used most often to create much larger
programs, such as drivers for running printers, scanners, or Web cams.
Learn these three low-level languages if you need speed or absolute control
over the computer. If these aren’t your priority, you can safely ignore these
languages, although knowing them will definitely help you better understand
how a computer works.