What is the Difference Between Fourth Generation and Fifth Generation Programming Languages (4GL and 5GL)?

The main difference between fourth-generation (4GL) and fifth-generation (5GL) programming languages lies in their design goals and problem-solving approaches:

4th Generation Programming Languages (4GL):

• Designed for specific application domains, often used in database programming and scripts.
• Consist of statements similar to human language, making them relatively easy to understand and learn.
• Examples include Perl, Python, Ruby, SQL, and MatLab.

5th Generation Programming Languages (5GL):

• Designed to allow computers to solve problems using problem-solving techniques rather than algorithms written by programmers.
• Used mainly in artificial intelligence (AI) research and problem-solving in AI fields.
• Examples include Prolog, OPS5, Mercury, and CVXGen.

In summary, 4GL languages are designed for specific application domains and require programmers to specify algorithms, while 5GL languages are designed for problem-solving in AI fields and require only the definition of problems and constraints.

Comparative Table: Fourth Generation vs Fifth Generation Programming Languages (4GL vs 5GL)

Here is a table comparing the differences between Fourth Generation (4GL) and Fifth Generation (5GL) programming languages:

Fourth Generation programming languages are designed for specific application domains and are used in database programming, scripts, and GUI development. Examples of 4GLs include SQL, FoxPro, Focus, PHP, Python, Ruby, and Perl. These languages are human-friendly and easy to understand, making them accessible to non-computer professionals.

Fifth Generation programming languages, on the other hand, are designed to allow computers to solve problems by defining constraints rather than using an algorithm written by a programmer. These languages are used mainly in Artificial Intelligence research and constraint-based programming. Examples of 5GLs include Mercury, OPS5, Prolog, ICAD, and KL-ONE. Learning and using these languages require knowledge of logic programming and constraint-based languages.