The taxonomy is provided based on the nature of program and data in these paradigms. The taxonomy is based on my instructor, Dr. Mattox A. Beckman's views.
1. Low level languages
Program : series of control signals for a CPU.
Data : integers, memory address, IEEE floating point.
eg: Assembly languages and microcode
2. Imperative languages
Program : list of commands to be executed.
Data : low level types (integers) and composite types (records and arrays)
eg: C, BASIC, Fortran, Forth and Pascal.
Fortran is still the best language to do intensive mathematic calculations. It has advantages over Matlab.
3. Data encapsulation languages
Program : list of commands to be executed.
Data : low level types (integers), composite types and we can hide details from the user.
eg: Clu, Modula 2, Ada
4. Object oriented languages
Program : message between objects
Data : object (functions with state)
eg: Smalltalk, Java, C++
C++ and Java were actually inspired by Smalltalk which should have been the web language, - what Java has become. But they didn't see the opportunity at the right time.
5. Functional languages
Program : an expression to evaluate.
Data : low level types and higher order types (the functions)
eg: LISP, Scheme, ML
6. Logic programming languages
Program : a logical predicate to satisfy.
Data : set of assertions about what we know to be true.
eg: Prolog
So from this taxonomy am already introduced to four of the paradigms. I learnt BASIC during my schooling days and have done few coding in assembly level language during my undergraduate studies. I have also learnt C and C++ in a private course. Then I learnt and worked in Java during my work experience.
Still there are two more paradigms unexplored and I'll learn them in this course (functional and logic programming languages). Hope that should provide me with the well-rounded understanding of the different paradigms, I strive for.
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