Translators

Source code is the program code that is written by a programmer. Most source code programs are text files that can be created using a simple text editor.

• When it’s written in high level languages, source code needs to be translated into machine code. • If they’re already in machine code they don’t need to be translated. • The processor can only analyse machine code

To run a program, the source code must be translated into object code according to the low-level features of the operating system and the instruction set has to be hardcoded into the computer’s chipset

• Languages that are… Python, Java

• Languages that sit close to the computer’s instruction set - Assembly language, Machine code

It’s determined by the particular implementation of a programming language, some provide only one option, some provide both

It translates the code all at once but does not execute it

• Produces executable code in a form that cannot be read by a human or readily reverse-engineered, so the source code is more protected • It translates all the code at once so it’s faster • Appropriate when the object code is going to be distributed or sold

Interpreters translate and execute each line of source code one by one

• can test the code and to quickly identify and fix errors. • Interpreters are useful in the development stage of a program as they don’t need to recompile every time an error is discovered

Assemblers translate assembly code programs into machine code.

Bytecode is source code that has been compiled into low-level code designed to be run on a virtual machine so it speeds up the translation process.

• The source code is executable on a wide range of platforms as its platform independent • Provides an extra level of protection as a separate bytecode interpreter is used.

It translates the source code (the input) into the equivalent 1’s and 0’s in machine code, producing object code.

It scans over the source code several times performing checks and building up tables of information to produce the final object code

• It uses subroutines that carry out high level instructions • It analyses each line of source code for syntax errors, if there are none it calls the appropriate subroutine to execute the command.