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Fourth-Generation Programming Language: 4Gl
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Fourth-generation languages have often been compared to domain-specific programming languages (DSLs). Some researchers state that 4GLs are a sub-set of DSLs. [1] Given the persistence of assembly language even now in advanced development environments (MS Studio), one expects that a system ought to be a mixture of all the generations, with only very limited use of the first.
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A 4GL differs from a third-generation programming language (3GL) in that it removes the need for a programmer to explicitly make many of the design decisions about data structures and algorithms. 4GLs allow programmers to express instructions in terminology and at a level of abstraction that are natural for communication between humans who are familiar with the application domain. The programmer interaction may even be in a graphical, or menu-based, form. 4GLs typically incorporate domain-specific knowledge and notation, and so are not "general-purpose" in the sense that 3GLs are, although they may include a 3GL component that permits general-purpose programming. 4GLs are associated with "frameworks," "templates," "automatic program generators," "middleware," and "graphical user interface builders." Some examples of 4GLs are Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, Delphi, and SQL.
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A fourth-generation programming language (abbreviated 4GL ) is a programming language designed with a specific purpose in mind, such as the development of commercial business software. Such languages arose after the introduction of modern, block-structured third-generation programming language s, which improved the process of software development. However, it was still frustrating, slow, and error prone to program computers. This led to the first "programming crisis", in which the amount of work that might be assigned to programmers greatly exceeded the amount of programmer time available to do it. Meanwhile, a lot of experience was gathered in certain areas, and it became clear that certain applications could be generalized by adding limited programming languages to them.
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PL/SQL, Oracle's procedural extension of SQL, is an advanced fourth-generation programming language (4GL). It offers modern features such as data encapsulation, overloading, collection types, exception handling, and information hiding. PL/SQL ... offers seamless SQL access, tight integration with the Oracle server and tools, portability, and security.
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A fourth-generation programming language (4GL) is a programming language closer to human languages than typical high-level programming languages. Such languages arose after the introduction of modern, block-structured third-generation programming languages, which improved the process of software development. Most 4GLs are used to access databases. For example, a typical 4GL command is FIND ALL RECORDS WHERE COMPANY IS "JAVVIN".
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The natural-language, block-structured mode of the third-generation programming languages improved the process of software development. However, 3GL development methods can be slow and error-prone. It became clear that some applications could be developed more rapidly by adding a higher-level programming language and methodology which would generate the equivalent of very complicated 3GL instructions with fewer errors. In some senses, software engineering arose to handle 3GL development. 4GL and 5GL projects are more oriented toward problem solving and systems engineering.
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