Translators | Computer for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Introduction

• Programmers use high-level languages like Python, Java, C# to write program source code. These languages are descriptive, easy to read, maintain, and debug.
• Source code written by programmers is not directly understandable by hardware, which requires conversion into machine code (binary) for execution.
• To enable hardware to understand and execute code, it must pass through a translator. There are two main types of translators: compilers and interpreters.

Compiler

• Compiling a program involves translating it into machine code. This process is typically done all at once by compilers, resulting in an executable file that can be distributed. It is most commonly used when a program is complete and free of syntax or logical errors.
• Compiling may require some time for processing, but the advantage is that once compiled, the program can be used repeatedly without the need for recompilation, as long as there are no errors present in the program.
• After the translation process, error reports are generated. Identifying and rectifying common errors in the code is crucial to prevent the computer from crashing or becoming unresponsive. It is essential to make necessary changes to the source code before compiling it again.

Advantages of Compilers

• Compilation results in fast execution since the program's source code is pre-translated and stored.
• Compilers optimize the code, leading to faster execution and reduced memory usage.
• The original source code remains hidden, which is advantageous for programmers seeking to prevent unauthorized copying of their work.

Disadvantages of Compilers

• Compilation of all code simultaneously necessitates ample memory space, and if virtual memory is utilized due to space constraints, performance may suffer.
• Compilers often do not pinpoint the exact location of errors in the code, making debugging challenging.
• Compilers are typically tailored for a specific processor architecture, limiting their compatibility.
• Any changes made to the program necessitate recompilation, potentially leading to increased development time.

Interpreter

• This method directly converts the source code into machine code, translating each line of code separately. 
• If an error occurs, the program halts and displays an error message. 
• Once the error is corrected, the program can resume execution from where the error occurred.

Advantages of Interpreters

• Programs will continue to run, halting only when encountering a specific syntax error in the code.
• Debugging is simpler, as it's easier to identify where a particular code has malfunctioned.
• Interpreters do not store instructions for future use, resulting in lower RAM requirements for processing the code.

Disadvantages of Interpreters

• Interpretation of each line of code individually by the CPU can result in slower execution.
• The program must be translated each time it is run, as no instructions are stored for future use.
• Interpreters lack the ability to optimize code; it is translated and executed as is without any optimizations.