2.5 Translator and language

• What is high level language?

  • Use code written in a way that’s similar to a human language, making it easier to understand
  • This leads to fewer errors and allows for more powerful and complex commands.
  • But this must be translated into machine code before it can be run.
• What is Low-level Language?

  • Do not closely resemble human language, making it hard for humans to understand and write in
  • Used when a program must be executed quickly or when code is needed to interact directly with the hardware
• What is a translator?

  Translates a program written in one language into machine code
• What is interpreter?

  • Translates high-level language one line at a time into machine code and executes it
  • Slower as code must be reinterpreted each time program is run
  • when encounter with an error, it’s reported immediately and stops program from running
  • Can be edited
• What is compiler?

  • Translates high-level language into machine code in one go.
  • produces an executable file that will run on other machines
  • Produce much more efficient code
  • Translate large complex Programms
  • Have to be re-compiled after any changes have been made
• What is the IDE ( integrated development environment)?

  provides tools to help create programs
• Editor

  Allow a programmer to enter and edit source code
• Features of editor

  • automatic indentation
  • Automatic line numbering (identify where error is)
  • Automatic colour coding
• Compilers and interpreters

  Convert source code into machine code to be executed by CPU
• Run time environment

  Allows program to Sun on a computer system

  Checks for runtime errors and allows user to test program