Stan,

With toggle switches we were able to generate machine code (the 1st Generation) (the 0s and 1s).

With the advent of the Interpreter, we could by-pass toggle switches and generate machine code (2nd Generation).
Languages such as ASSEMBLER and BASIC arrived.
The problem was that the source code had to be traversed each run. This allowed a suspicion of inaccuracy from a previous run of a program. The much-maligned 'GOTO' statement had also arrived.

With the advent of the Compiler, we could by-pass the Interpreter and create machine code direct from source code.
3rd Generation Languages such as COBOL arrived.
The executable could be run directly and repeatedly without further reference to the Source Code.
New programming techniques also arose, such as Structured Programming.
A BASIC Compiler was also created to by-pass it's 2nd Generation ancestor.

The advent of a so-called '4th Generation' should be celebrated, and a full description of what this 'thing' is and does to by-pass the Compiler should be easy to come by.
A Language that claims to conform/comply with the '4th Generation thing' should and must be easy to find.

Since I am unable to find either the '4th Generation thing' nor a Language to match up with it, I'll continue to maintain that there is no such 'thing'.

I'm sure that anyone will agree that the 'Cloud' is marketing-speak and has no substance. Therefore it deserves no comment from me.

I taught UCSD P-Code many moons ago, and around the same era wrote a compiler using PASCAL as the 'host'. 
I've also worked with an ALGOL Compiler which was using the French language in its interactions with the users.

We all have 'war stories'.

Kindest Regards,
Tom.

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