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May 10, 2009 · A compiler is the second layer of abstraction between MACHINE DEPENDENT SYMBOLIC CODE and MACHINE INDEPENDENT SYMBOLIC CODE. If a compiler directly converts code to binary code, by definition, it will be called assembler and not a compiler.
Jan 20, 2023 · A compiler is a computer program that translates from one format to another, most often from a high-level computer language to byte code and machine code. Compilers come in a number of...
In computing, a compiler is a computer program that translates computer code written in one programming language (the source language) into another language (the target language).
- Introduction
- Compilation Phases
- Compiler vs. Interpreter
- Compiler Examples
- Conclusion
Programming languages were created to allow developers to write human-readable source code. However, computers work with machine code, which people can hardly write or read. Thus, compilers translate the programming language’s source code to machine code dedicated to a specific machine. In this article, we’ll analyze the compilation process phases....
As we already mentioned, the compilation process converts high-level source code to a low-level machine code that can be executed by the target machine. Moreover, an essential role of compilers is to inform the developer about errors committed, especially syntax-related ones. The compilation process consists of several phases: 1. Lexical analysis 2...
As we already know, the compiler converts high-level source code to low-level code. Then, the target machine executes low-level code. On the other hand, the interpreter analyzes and executes source code directly.An interpreter usually uses one of several techniques: 1. Analyzes (parses) the source code and executes it directly. 2. Converts high-lev...
4.1. Javac
In Java, source code is first compiled to the bytecode by the javaccompiler. Then, a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) interprets and executes bytecode. So, javac is an excellent example of a compiler that belongs to an interpreter system. Such a system makes Java portable and multiplatform. Moreover, there are other languages like Kotlin or Scala that are also compiled to bytecode, but these use unique compilers. Thus, the JVM can execute code that was originally written using different technologies.
4.2. Mono
Monois a toolset, including a C# programming language compiler, for executing software dedicated to the .NET Platform. It was created to allow .NET applications to run on different platforms. Moreover, an important goal was to give developers working on Linux a better environment and tools for working with the .NET platform. A compiler converts C# source code into an intermediate bytecode. After that, the virtual machine executes it. Both the C# compiler and virtual machine belong to the Mono...
4.3. GNU Compiler Collection
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a set of open-source compilers that belong to the GNU Project. These compilers could run on different hardware and software platforms. Therefore, they can generate machine code for various architectures and operating systems. During compilation, GCC is responsible for processing arguments, calling the compiler for the specific programming language, running the assembler program, and eventually, running a linker to produce an executable binary. GCC consists...
In this article, we described a compiler’s role. Further, we went through all phases of the compilation process. Then we discussed differences between a compiler and interpreter. Finally, we mentioned some real-world compiler examples.
Not all compilers produce "machine code" (except for the trivial interpretation that all code in some language is machine code for an abstract machine induced by that language). For example, lots of compilers produce ECMAScript source code: CoffeeScript, TypeScript, PureScript, Elm, Opal, GWT, Emscripten, Babel, Clozure, Scala.js, Kotlin, Clue.
Feb 9, 2023 · A compiler is an essential program that translates programming languages into machine-readable code that can be executed by a computer.
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Jun 10, 2018 · After the assembly code has been generated, we can compile the assembly down to machine code, using an assembler. The machine code only works for the single target CPU architecture.
