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Edube Interactive - 1.1.1.4 Programming - Absolute Basics - Compilation vs. Interpretation

There are two main ways to transform a program from a high-level language into machine language: compilation and interpretation. Compilation translates the source code once into an executable file that can then be distributed and run, while interpretation translates the source code each time it is run. Most languages are designed to use one method or the other due to fundamental reasons. Very few languages can be both compiled and interpreted.

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139 views

Edube Interactive - 1.1.1.4 Programming - Absolute Basics - Compilation vs. Interpretation

There are two main ways to transform a program from a high-level language into machine language: compilation and interpretation. Compilation translates the source code once into an executable file that can then be distributed and run, while interpretation translates the source code each time it is run. Most languages are designed to use one method or the other due to fundamental reasons. Very few languages can be both compiled and interpreted.

Uploaded by

JMWIN32
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 1.1.1.4 Programming - absolute basics | Compilation vs.

interpretation 

MODULE (21%) SECTION (36%)

    Sandbox

There are two di erent ways of transforming a program from a high-level


Compilation vs. interpretation
programming language into machine language:
Computer programming is the act of composing the selected programming language's
elements in the order that will cause the desired e ect. The e ect could be di erent in COMPILATION - the source program is translated once (however, this act must be
every speci c case - it's up to the programmer's imagination, knowledge and experience. repeated each time you modify the source code) by getting a le (e.g., an .exe le if the
code is intended to be run under MS Windows) containing the machine code; now you
Of course, such a composition has to be correct in many senses: can distribute the le worldwide; the program that performs this translation is called a
compiler or translator;
alphabetically - a program needs to be written in a recognizable script, such as
Roman, Cyrillic, etc. INTERPRETATION - you (or any user of the code) can translate the source program
lexically - each programming language has its dictionary and you need to master it; each time it has to be run; the program performing this kind of transformation is called
thankfully, it's much simpler and smaller than the dictionary of any natural an interpreter, as it interprets the code every time it is intended to be executed; it also
language; means that you cannot just distribute the source code as-is, because the end-user also
syntactically - each language has its rules and they must be obeyed; needs the interpreter to execute it.
semantically - the program has to make sense.
Due to some very fundamental reasons, a particular high-level programming language is
Unfortunately, a programmer can also make mistakes with each of the above four designed to fall into one of these two categories.
senses. Each of them can cause the program to become completely useless.
There are very few languages that can be both compiled and interpreted. Usually, a
Let's assume that you've successfully written a program. How do we persuade the programming language is projected with this factor in its constructors' minds - will it be
computer to execute it? You have to render your program into machine language. compiled or interpreted?
Luckily the translation can be done by a computer itself making the whole process fast
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