1.2.2 Application Generation Flashcards
Application
“Any program, routine or procedures (together with their associated documentation) that can be run on a computer system.”
Utilities
“A systems program that performs some specific task in the operation of the computer, for example file backup, virus checking or a compression program.”
Open Source
“Software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. – Open source file types are often able to be opened on many different types of applications.”
Closed Source
“Often called Proprietary is a type of computer program for which the software code is not shared with the public for anyone to look at or make changes to – Closed / Proprietary file types are often only able to be opened if you own a version of the software they were originally made in.”
Source Code
“Original code typed in by the programmer in the native language. This is the code as it appears before it is compilers or interrupted.”
Translator
“A program that translates a program written in assembly language into machine code.”
Interpreter
“Translates and executes a program one statement at a time.”
Compiler
“A program that translates a high-level language program, source code, into a computer’s machine code.”
Assembler
“A program that translates (assembles) a program written in assembly language into machine code.”
Compilation
“The translation process that produces an equivalent program in a low-level language. Compilation involves analysing the language structure of the source program, determining if it is valid, and proceeding suitable machine code.”
Lexical Analysis
“The stage in compilation of a program that puts each statement into the form best suited to the syntax analyser. The standard components of each statement, such as PRINT, IF etc., are replaced by their tokens (a unique fixed length code) and programmer-defined names are entered into a symbol table. The lexical analyser also remove unnecessary charters such as spaces, tabs and coder comments.”
Syntax Analysis
“The stage in compilation where language statements are checked against the rules of the language, errors being reported if a statement is not valid.”
Code Generation
“The stage in compilation that produces a machine-code program that is equivalent to the source program.”
Optimisation
“The stage of compilation that ensures that the executable program if optimised at least as much as the compiler can predict. e.g. removing reference to unused variables or routines.”
Linker
“Software tool that allows already compiled object code files or modules to be combined with the compiled program.”
