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Compiler Construction Lecture 1

The document discusses compilers and interpreters, explaining that compilers translate code into machine code before program execution while interpreters translate code line-by-line during execution, with compilers generally producing faster executing code than interpreters.

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19 views13 pages

Compiler Construction Lecture 1

The document discusses compilers and interpreters, explaining that compilers translate code into machine code before program execution while interpreters translate code line-by-line during execution, with compilers generally producing faster executing code than interpreters.

Uploaded by

Minahil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Compiler Construction

Introduction to Compiler
What is Compiler?
 A compiler is a computer program that transforms code written in a high-
level programming language into the machine code. It is a program
which translates the human-readable code to a language a computer
processor understands (binary 1 and 0 bits). The computer processes the
machine code to perform the corresponding tasks.
 A compiler should comply with the syntax rule of that programming
language in which it is written. However, the compiler is only a program
and cannot fix errors found in that program. So, if you make a mistake,
you need to make changes in the syntax of your program. Otherwise, it
will not compile.
What is Interpreter?
 An interpreter is a computer program, which coverts each
high-level program statement into the machine code. This
includes source code, pre-compiled code, and scripts. Both
compiler and interpreters do the same job which is
converting higher level programming language to machine
code. However, a compiler will convert the code into
machine code (create an exe) before program run.
Interpreters convert code into machine code when the
program is run.
Key Difference

 Compiler transforms code written in a high-level programming language into the


machine code, at once, before program runs, whereas an Interpreter coverts each
high-level program statement, one by one, into the machine code, during program
run.
 Compiled code runs faster while interpreted code runs slower.
 Compiler displays all errors after compilation, on the other hand, the Interpreter
displays errors of each line one by one.
 Compiler is based on translation linking-loading model, whereas Interpreter is
based on Interpretation Method.
 Compiler takes an entire program whereas the Interpreter takes a single line of
code.
Role of Compiler

 Compliers reads the source code, outputs executable code


 Translates software written in a higher-level language into
instructions that computer can understand. It converts the text that a
programmer writes into a format the CPU can understand.
 The process of compilation is relatively complicated. It spends a lot
of time analyzing and processing the program.
 The executable result is some form of machine-specific binary code.
Role of Interpreter

 The interpreter converts the source code line-by-line during RUN


Time.
 Interpret completely translates a program written in a high-level
language into machine level language.
 Interpreter allows evaluation and modification of the program while
it is executing.
 Relatively less time spent for analyzing and processing the program
 Program execution is relatively slow compared to compiler
HIGH-LEVEL LANGUAGES

 High-level languages, like C, C++, JAVA, etc., are very


near to English. It makes programming process easy.
However, it must be translated into machine language
before execution. This translation process is either
conducted by either a compiler or an interpreter. Also
known as source code.
MACHINE CODE

 Machine languages are very close to the hardware. Every


computer has its machine language. A machine language
programs are made up of series of binary pattern. (Eg.
110110) It represents the simple operations which should
be performed by the computer. Machine language
programs are executable so that they can be run directly.
Features of Compilers

 Correctness
 Speed of compilation
 Preserve the correct the meaning of the code
 The speed of the target code
 Recognize legal and illegal program constructs
 Good error reporting/handling
 Code debugging help
Why use a Compiler?
 Compiler verifies entire program, so there are no syntax or semantic errors
 The executable file is optimized by the compiler, so it is executes faster
 Allows you to create internal structure in memory
 There is no need to execute the program on the same machine it was built
 Translate entire program in other language
 Generate files on disk
 Link the files into an executable format
 Check for syntax errors and data types
 Helps you to enhance your understanding of language semantics
 Helps to handle language performance issues
 Opportunity for a non-trivial programming project
 The techniques used for constructing a compiler can be useful for other purposes
as well
History of Compiler

 Important Landmark of Compiler's history are as follows:


 The "compiler" word was first used in the early 1950s by Grace Murray Hopper
 The first compiler was build by John Backum and his group between 1954 and
1957 at IBM
 COBOL was the first programming language which was compiled on multiple
platforms in 1960
 The study of the scanning and parsing issues were pursued in the 1960s and 1970s
to provide a complete solution

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