COMPILER DESIGN

 

COMPILER DESIGN

                               The compiler is software that converts a program written in a high-level language (Source Language) to a low-level language (Object/Target/Machine Language/0, 1’s). 

A translator or language processor is a program that translates an input program written in a programming language into an equivalent program in another language. The compiler is a type of translator, which takes a program written in a high-level programming language as input and translates it into an equivalent program in low-level languages such as machine language or assembly language. 

The program written in a high-level language is known as a source program, and the program converted into a low-level language is known as an object (or target) program. Without compilation, no program written in a high-level language can be executed. For every programming language, we have a different compiler; however, the basic tasks performed by every compiler are the same. The process of translating the source code into machine code involves several stages, including lexical analysis, syntax analysis, semantic analysis, code generation, and optimization.

Compiler is an intelligent program as compare to an assembler. Compiler verifies all types of limits, ranges, errors , etc. Compiler program takes more time to run and it occupies huge amount of memory space. The speed of compiler is slower than other system software. It takes time because it enters through the program and then does translation of the full program. When compiler runs on same machine and produces machine code for the same machine on which it is running. Then it is called as self compiler or resident compiler. Compiler may run on one machine and produces the machine codes for other computer then in that case it is called as cross compiler.