Learn Basics Of Compiler Design. In order to reduce the complexity of designing and building computers, nearly all
of these are made to execute relatively simple commands (but do so very quickly).
A program for a computer must be built by combining these very simple commands
into a program in what is called machine language. Since this is a tedious and errorprone
process most programming is, instead, done using a high-level programming
language. This language can be very different from the machine language that the
computer can execute, so some means of bridging the gap is required. This is where
the compiler comes in.
A compiler translates (or compiles) a program written in a high-level programming
language that is suitable for human programmers into the low-level machine
language that is required by computers. During this process, the compiler will also
attempt to spot and report obvious programmer mistakes.
Using a high-level language for programming has a large impact on how fast
programs can be developed. The main reasons for this are:
Compared to machine language, the notation used by programming languages
is closer to the way humans think about problems.
The compiler can spot some obvious programming mistakes.
Programs written in a high-level language tend to be shorter than equivalent
programs written in machine language.
Another advantage of using a high-level level language is that the same program
can be compiled to many different machine languages and, hence, be brought to
run on many different machines.
of these are made to execute relatively simple commands (but do so very quickly).
A program for a computer must be built by combining these very simple commands
into a program in what is called machine language. Since this is a tedious and errorprone
process most programming is, instead, done using a high-level programming
language. This language can be very different from the machine language that the
computer can execute, so some means of bridging the gap is required. This is where
the compiler comes in.
A compiler translates (or compiles) a program written in a high-level programming
language that is suitable for human programmers into the low-level machine
language that is required by computers. During this process, the compiler will also
attempt to spot and report obvious programmer mistakes.
Using a high-level language for programming has a large impact on how fast
programs can be developed. The main reasons for this are:
Compared to machine language, the notation used by programming languages
is closer to the way humans think about problems.
The compiler can spot some obvious programming mistakes.
Programs written in a high-level language tend to be shorter than equivalent
programs written in machine language.
Another advantage of using a high-level level language is that the same program
can be compiled to many different machine languages and, hence, be brought to
run on many different machines.
