Compiler Design 101: Compilation and Interpretation Explained
Compilation and interpretation are two of the most important concepts in
compiler design.
While both methods have their own strengths and
weaknesses, understanding the difference between them is essential for
anyone looking to work in the field of compiler design or programming.
In this article, we'll dive into the world of compilation and
interpretation to give you a better understanding of these concepts and
how they impact the way programs are built and executed.
Difference Between Compilation and Interpretation:
| Compilation | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Compilation is a process that converts source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code, which is then executed by the computer. The compilation process involves several stages, including lexical analysis, parsing, semantic analysis, code generation, and optimization. | Interpretation, on the other hand, is a process that directly executes source code written in a high-level programming language, without converting it into machine code. |
| During each of these stages, the compiler takes the source code and transforms it into a form that the computer can understand and execute. | Instead of compiling the code into machine code, the interpreter reads the source code line by line and performs the actions specified in the code. |
| compiled programs generally run faster than interpreted programs because they have already been converted into machine code. However, compiled programs can only be executed on the specific platform they were compiled for | while interpreted programs can be run on any platform that has an interpreter for the language they were written in. |
| In a compiled program, errors are typically caught during the compilation process, which can make it easier to find and fix errors in the code. | However, with an interpreted program, errors may not be caught until the program is executed, which can make debugging more difficult. |
In conclusion, understanding the concepts of compilation and
interpretation is essential for anyone working in the field of compiler
design or programming.
While both methods have their own strengths and
weaknesses, they each play a crucial role in the development of software
and applications.
Whether you're just starting out in the field or
you're a seasoned programmer, taking the time to understand the
differences between compilation and interpretation will help you make
informed decisions about how you build and execute your programs.
Reference Books
Here are the books I’ve used as references for writing this article,
please feel free to read them If you don’t want your knowledge to be
limited to this article alone.
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