Programming Language Translators

Question 1

Assemblers

Answer 1

• Translate assembly language to machine code
• Processor specific
• 1 line assembly to 1 line machine

Question 2

Compilers

Answer 2

• Translates HLL to machine code
• Whole program at a time
• Save binary executable

Question 3

Compiler advantages

Answer 3

• Program translated only once
• Checks whole program for errors
• Difficult to hack into
• Produces final software ready for distribution

Question 4

Compiler disadvantages

Answer 4

• Can be slow
• One error can cause follow on errors
• Debugging can be slowed by needing to recompile
• Altered code needs to be recompiled

Question 5

Interpreters

Answer 5

• Translates HLL to machine code
• Translates line by line
• No binary executable

Question 6

Interpreter advantages

Answer 6

• Program run without waiting for it to compile
• Stops at first error
• Debugging cycle is fast

Question 7

Interpreter disadvantages

Answer 7

• Running can be slow as must interpret as it goes along
• Each syntax error needs ta run edit run cycle to cure
• Program needs interpreter to run
• Others can examine source code

Question 8

Source code

Answer 8

code written by programmer

Question 9

Object code

Answer 9

machine code that runs on a computer

Question 10

Bytecode

Answer 10

• Source code compiled into intermediate form, then interpreted.
• For example Java bytecode can be run on any JVM