How Are Programming Languages Created?

Programming languages are the backbones of any computer software, which allows computers to perform tasks. The language a programmer uses is something that can make or break a project. In this article, you'll learn how are programming languages created and what languages are currently dominating the industry.

A programming language is a set of rules, which enable computers to carry out a specific task. The rules can be so simple that they cannot be expressed in words alone. The creation process begins with a formal specification and continues through to the development of products that run on different platforms around the world.

When people want a programming language they look at two things: how long it's been around and its popularity among developers, programmers, and developers who want to learn programming languages.

Who Created Programming Languages?

Programming languages are the tools used to write computer programs. Most programming languages allow you to express your ideas in a way that is easy for machines to understand. They're what makes it possible for you to use your computer, create things like websites, and run apps.

In the 1950s, people like Grace Hopper created simple programming languages to make it easier for programmers to write programs. These early languages were called COBOL (an acronym for "Common Business-Oriented Language").

Today, there are over 10,000 programming languages available! The most popular ones include C++, Java, Perl (and Python), and JavaScript (and even more!). According to Statista, JavaScript and HTML/CSS were the most popular coding languages among software developers around the world. 

Around 65 percent of respondents said they used JavaScript, while just over 55 percent used HTML/CSS. Python and SQL rounded out the top five most widely used programming languages.

There are three main types of programming languages: imperative languages, declarative languages, and object-oriented languages. The development of programming languages allows programmers to create new programs.

How Do You Create a Programming Language?

Most people who want to learn how to “create a programming language” are effectively looking for information on how to build a compiler. They want to understand the mechanics of how a new programming language works, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle.

Creating a programming language involves several steps. First, the language creator needs to decide which paradigms to use and how to structure the syntax of the language. 

Second, a compiler translates program code into machine-readable form. Third, you need to build support tools like editors and build systems from scratch or an existing library. Fourth, you need to develop libraries for your language of choice.

Basic Requirements to Make a Programming Language

To make a programming language, you’ll first need to decide what the purpose of your language is. Are you creating a new programming language? Or are you porting an existing one to a new platform?

If it’s the latter, then there are some basic requirements that you should have to make sure that your language will be usable. These include:

A Syntax for Writing Code

This could be as simple as providing a syntax for how to write your code or it could be as complex as providing an entire programming language with its grammar and semantics. The language must have good semantics. 

Semantics refers to the underlying meaning of the words used in your programming language. For example, when we say "x is a car," what do we mean by that phrase? If you want your language's semantics to be unambiguous, then they should also be simple and easy to understand.

An Interpreter or Compiler That Will Run Your Programs

This will need to take in text files and output executable machine code. If it doesn't, then this step can become very tedious and time-consuming. A compiler is a program that converts source code into a machine-readable format so that hardware can process it. 

Compiler translators are common in programming languages such as C++ and Java. A compiler interprets the instructions of a program and produces machine code from them.

An interpreter is a program that executes programs directly in their original language, without the intermediate step of translation. Interpreters are also known as virtual machines or just " VMs."

A Standard Library That Provides Access to Common Functions 

These include sorting algorithms and string manipulation routines (e.g., substring). This is important because, without it, your users may not be able to do things like sort names alphabetically or search through large text files reliably (and they'd have no way of knowing whether or not something was working).

Proper Deployment

The next step in your development process is to design and implement a deployment structure for your program. You need to consider not only the actual configuration of your software but also how it will interface with other systems and libraries.

Moving forward, think about hardware support and software dependencies. Make sure you use tested and stable tools in your actual environment. You might also want to consider supporting scripts required for compilation.

Detailed Testing Processes

When you develop a new language or software, you need to make sure it works properly before you release it. The Testing phase is a vital part of the process. It helps ensure that things go in the right direction and that the product performs to its specifications.

To test your products, you can use a variety of different tools. You can write your scripts using languages such as Python or Ruby or use third-party solutions that are available for free online.

You can also hire people who have experience with testing software and make decisions about how the product should work based on their feedback during this phase.

Top Programming Languages to Consider for Developers

The programming language you choose is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a developer.

Depending on your interests and goals, a programming language can help you build apps or websites that interface with databases, run live streaming services, or even create video games. It can also change the way you think about code—from the syntax to the ecosystem around it. So what are you waiting for? Let's dive right in!

JavaScript

JavaScript is a language that's easy to learn and use, making it ideal for creating interactive web pages and apps. Because it's an interpreted language, JavaScript programs run faster than compiled languages like C++ and Java. 

The JavaScript programming language, however, has some limitations: it runs only in browsers and not servers; and because it's not compiled into bytecode, there's no way to optimize your code once you've written it down.

C/C++

C++ is a powerful language that can be used to create high-performance applications. With templates, C++ provides power and flexibility. This versatility allows developers to build applications that perform well on both CPUs and GPUs (graphics processing units). 

It is a popular language for game developers because it allows them to write highly optimized code without having to worry about memory management or other overhead issues.

Python

This programming language is known as a "Swiss Army Knife" because it can be used for many different tasks, including web development, data science, and machine learning. 

Python is a popular language for web development, and it has a robust library and extensive documentation. Using Python, you can quickly build apps that are customized to your needs.

How to Make a Programming Language In JavaScript?

JavaScript is a programming language used for web applications, but it can also be used for desktop and mobile apps. If you want to make a programming language in JavaScript, you will need to know the syntax of the language. 

The syntax of JavaScript is very simple and easy to understand. All you need is to learn how to write code in JavaScript. 

The first step that you need to take is learning how to write code in JavaScript. Once you have learned how to write code in JavaScript, you may want to create your programming language by using this as a base. You can use this as a base because it has been growing over time and has many features that are available today.

Key Takeaways

The process to create a programming language is fascinating, to say the least. In most cases, it occurs over years and years of moving pieces around on a chessboard until the pieces work in concert to form language. 

Language design begins with an idea, but it's usually full of revisions and trials until something ends up becoming a final product.

The introduction of new programming languages pushes the frontiers of humanity's understanding. It expands the possibilities for all developers and leaves us with more to explore in the future. 

You've got the skills to build great software, but don't want to learn a new language or framework?

Let our dedicated development teams at InvoZone take care of it. We can help you develop applications using our experience in programming languages like Java, Python, Kotlin, and many more.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does it take to build a programming language?

Programming languages are made up of a bunch of rules, which means that it takes a lot of work to make one.

The first step is to decide what kind of programming language you want to make. You'll need to come up with the syntax (the way your code will look) and the semantics (what each piece of code means). You'll also need to decide how the grammar works, which is basically how you write your sentences and determine whether or not they're grammatically correct.

Once you've done all that, you'll need to write down all the rules for how those pieces work together into actual sentences. Then, once everything is written out in full detail, you can start implementing them into your language!

What is needed to make a programming language?

Programming languages are made up of three things:

1. A set of rules that tell you what to do when you run a program.
2. The ability to execute the code within those rules is called execution.
3. A place where you can store and retrieve data so that you can use it in your programs.