Compilation

Question 1

What are the 4 stages of compilation?

Answer 1

1. lexical analysis
2. syntax analysis
3. code generation
4. code optimisation

Question 2

Lexical analysis is…?

Answer 2

• Comments and white spaces removed
• Remaining code is turned into series of tokens
• Symbol table is created to keep track of variables and subroutines

Question 3

Syntax analysis is…?

Answer 3

• Abstract syntax tree is built from tokens produced in the previous stages
• Errors are generated if any tokens break the rules of the language

Question 4

Code generation is…?

Answer 4

• Abstracting code tree converted to object code

- Object code is the machine code produced before the final step (linker) is run

Question 5

Code optimisation is…?

Answer 5

• Tweaking the code so it will run as quickly and use as little memory as possible