OCR GCSE Computer Science (J277)Specification point 2.5.1

OCR J277 2.5.1: Languages

The free BugBot lesson that teach this point, a robot to try it on, and the past-paper questions that test it.

What it covers

BugBot's processor cannot read Python. Nor can the one in your laptop. A processor understands only its own machine code: patterns of binary that mean things like "add these two numbers" or "jump to that instruction". Every program in every other language has to be translated into machine code before it can run. This lesson is about the kinds of language, and the programs that translate between them.

  • High level and low level
  • Assembly language
  • Translators
  • Which does BugBot use?
  • An interpreter of your own
Read the free lesson (20 min)

Or do it in the simulator, with tasks that mark themselves

Lessons that teach it

  1. F6.5 Languages and translators Robust programs
    High and low level, machine code and assembly; compilers, interpreters and assemblers.

Try it on a robot

The task from F6.5 Languages and translators, running here. Change the program and press Run.

The specification is OCR's own document; this page says which of our lessons teach point 2.5.1 and is not endorsed by the board.