2.5 Translators and Facilities of Languages

Question 1

What are assemblers responsible for?

Answer 1

Converting low-level assembly language into machine code.

Question 2

How do assemblers have a one to one relationship?

Answer 2

Each line of assembly code is converted or looked up by the assembler and translates directly into one line of binary.

Question 3

Why are assemblers processor specific?

Answer 3

Each CPU has a unique set of instructions for itself, which won’t work on other CPU’s

Question 4

Define translator

Answer 4

Any program which converts source code (code written in a programming language) into the machine code (binary).

Question 5

What are compilers and interpreters responsible for?

Answer 5

Converting high-level languages into binary.

Question 6

How do compilers and interpreters have a one to many relationship?

Answer 6

Each single line of high level source code written by a programmer translates into many lines of binary.

Question 7

How do interpreters translate a high level language?

Answer 7

They take one line of high language program code and convert it directly into binary and then run it

Question 8

Why are interpreters useful when debugging a program?

Answer 8

Because they will stop at the first line which contains an error.

Question 9

What is a disadvantage of interpreters debugging a program?

Answer 9

The interpreter will require access to the whole source code each time it needs to translate it.

Question 10

How are interpreters debugging a program inefficient?

Answer 10

It’s a security issue, the code can be stolen.

The code executes quite slowly, especially for large programs.

Question 11

How do compilers translate a high level language?

Answer 11

They take the entire program and converts it into object code which can be quite slow.

Question 12

Why can a compiler be better than an interpreter?

Answer 12

The compiled object code will run a lot faster than an interpreted version.

Question 13

Why can an interpreter be better than a compiler?

Answer 13

If the program needs to be updated now, the original source code would have to be changed and a new version compiled and distributed.

Question 14

What is an integrated development environment (IDE)?

Answer 14

A program which provides resources and tools with high level languages.

Question 15

What are some included tools?

Answer 15

Multi-window text editing.

Run Time Environment.

Built-in translator.

Integrated debugger.

Question 16

Why do most professional programmers use more complex IDE’s?

Answer 16

Because they provide a whole host of extra features and resources to help them complete their complex programs faster.

Question 17

What is a text editor?

Answer 17

A text area used for programmers to enter code directly into the IDE.

It contains:
Syntax highlighting.
Autocomplete code.
Self-indentation support.

Question 18

What are error diagnostics?

Answer 18

A feature which reports errors (mainly syntax) in the code and potential problems along with where they’re found and often suggestion on who to fix.

Question 19

What are runtime environments?

Answer 19

Software to support the execution and running of programs.

They allow developer to run their code during development in order to check for logical error.

Question 20

What is auto-documentation?

Answer 20

A feature which tracks variables declared by the programmer in order to produce self – documentation.

It helps with:
Program maintenance.
Debugging.
Support.

Question 21

What is high-level language?

Answer 21

A programming language that uses key words such as PRINT or IF and it has a set of grammar rules (syntax) making it close to English.

E.g. python, java or C++

Question 22

What is assembly language?

Answer 22

A low level language written in mnemonics that closely reflects CPU operations used for device drivers.

Question 23

What is a driver?

Answer 23

It tells a specific hard drive what to do and is used when fast execution is required or there is limited memory / file size.

Question 24

Why does the high level language need to translated into binary?

Answer 24

Because the only thing computers understand is binary as the 1’s and 0’s represent on and off for each instruction.

Question 25

Why might someone compile their code?

Answer 25

If they made a new program worth millions and wanted to sell it to people, they could compile the code and then send them it in binary so the people can’t copy your source code.

Question 26

What is a disadvantage of compiling?

Answer 26

If there are errors in the source code, you will have to fix it and compile the code again which takes time.

Question 27

Define a program

Answer 27

Instructions which tell the computer what to do to find a solution to a problem.

Question 28

Which languages are hardware specific and not portable (needs to be modified to run on another computer?

Answer 28

Machine and assembly.

Question 29

Why might high-level languages need to be modified?

Answer 29

Because they can’t run on different OS.