Programming Languages & Translators Flashcards

A programming language written in a form close to human language, which must be translated into machine code by a compiler or interpreter before it can run.

Machine code or assembly language — written for one specific type of processor and giving direct control of the hardware and memory.

Any two of: the program runs faster / uses less processor time; it uses less memory; it can directly control the hardware, e.g. in an embedded system; no unnecessary code is added by a compiler.

It is easier to write, understand and debug, as it uses English-like keywords; it is portable, so the same source code can be translated to run on different types of processor.

False. Machine code does not need to be translated / compiled / interpreted — the processor executes it directly.

To translate program code written in a high-level language or assembly language so it can be executed. Processors can only execute machine code, so all other code must be translated.

It translates the whole program in one go into machine code, producing an executable file, and reports the errors it finds after translation. The executable then runs without the compiler or the source code.

It translates and executes the program one line at a time and stops when it finds an error. It produces no executable file or machine code: it calls machine-code subroutines within its own code to carry out each statement.

It produces an executable file, so end users do not need a translator; the program runs faster than the interpreted version.
Also: it only needs translating once, and the compiler can optimise the code.

An interpreter — it runs the code straight away without re-translating the whole program, and stops at the error so its location is easy to find.

Any two of: the code is difficult to read, write and debug; it is not portable, as it normally runs on only one type of processor; it takes longer to write.

Any two of: it must be translated before it can run; the program usually runs more slowly; it tends to use memory less efficiently; it gives less direct control of the hardware.

One assembly language instruction corresponds to exactly one machine code instruction (a 1:1 correspondence). One high-level statement usually stands for many machine code instructions.

Any two of: translating the whole program can take a long time; errors are only reported, all together, after compilation finishes, which can make them harder to track down; the program must be recompiled after every change.

Any two of: the program runs more slowly, because each line is translated every time it runs; the interpreter must be present every time the program is run; the source code has to be given to users, so it can be seen and copied.

Instructions written in binary that the processor executes directly. Each type of processor has its own instruction set, so machine code is specific to a processor or family of processors.

A low-level language that uses short text mnemonics (e.g. ADD, LDR) in place of binary machine code instructions. It is often used for embedded systems and for controlling specific hardware.

Machine code is binary (0s and 1s); assembly language uses mnemonics such as ADD with operands; high-level code uses English-like statements such as IF and WHILE.

It translates a program written in assembly language into machine code, so that the processor can execute it.

Fundamentals of Algorithms

Programming

Fundamentals of Data Representation

Computer Systems

Fundamentals of Computer Networks

Cyber Security

Relational Databases & SQL

Ethical, Legal & Environmental Impacts