Assemblers , interpreters , compilers and Java

Question 1

Machine Code

Answer 1

Is a low level language

Pros:
- Works with low powered computers

Cons:
- Difficult to learn
- Hard to enter without errors
- Machine specific

Question 2

Assembly language

Answer 2

A low level language

Pros:
- Easier to undertand
- Works with low powered machines
- Easier to enter without making mistakes
Cons:
- Is machine specific

Question 3

Assembler

Answer 3

Program that converts assembly language to machine code

Question 4

Low level language

Answer 4

Little or no abstraction from a computers instruction set architecture

Question 5

High level language

Answer 5

Language with strong abstraction from the computers instruction set architecture

Pros:
- Easier to learn
- Easier to understand code
- Harder to make mistakes
- Not machine specific

Cons:
- Requires more processing power
- Doesn’t allow for same level of control as as low level code

Question 6

High level language

Answer 6

Language with strong abstraction from the computers instruction set architecture

Pros:
- Easier to learn
- Easier to understand code
- Harder to make mistakes
- Not machine specific

Cons:
- Requires more processing power
- Doesn’t allow for same level of control as as low level code

Question 7

Interpreter

Answer 7

Translates high level code to low level line by line at run time

Question 8

Interpreters pros / cons

Answer 8

Pros:
- Going through code line by line helps with debugging
- Quicker to re interpret than re compile
- Not machine specific

Cons:
- requires more processing power
- Translated at run time (makes slower)
- Needs interpreter to be present at run time
- Source code is not protected

Question 9

Compiler

Answer 9

Translated high level code to low level in one go

Question 10

Compiler pros / cons

Answer 10

Pros:
- Compiled code is faster then interpreted
- Only machine code is present
- Difficult to decipher (programers can protect intellectual rights)
- Does not need an interpreter to be present at run time

Cons:
- Requires more processing power than Low level language
- Program creation is slower , as you have to compile each time you make changes
- Is specific to each OS (a different version of the app)

Question 11

Java

Answer 11

Is designed to be a hybrid between a compiler and interpreter
Compiles code into java byte code
Faster to interpret
Not machine specific
- Needs java virtual to interpret java byte code
- Harder to decipher than interpreted code but not compiled