Programming: Machine Code & Higher-Level Languages

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes the role of an assembler?

It translates mnemonic code into machine code. (correct)
It optimizes code for specific hardware configurations.
It converts high-level language into bytecode.
It directly executes source code line by line.

A programmer using a high-level language needs to understand:

The specific hardware architecture the code will run on.
The programming language and relevant translators. (correct)
The instruction set of the target processor.
The operating system's kernel structure.

What is the primary difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

A compiler translates code at runtime, while an interpreter translates code ahead of time.
A compiler translates the entire program at once, while an interpreter translates code instruction by instruction during execution. (correct)
A compiler creates an object code, while an interpreter does not generate any output.
A compiler is used for low-level languages, while an interpreter is used for high-level languages.

What is required to run source code on different platforms using a compiled language?

The source code needs to be recompiled for each target platform. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of an API (Application Programming Interface) in the context of compiled code?

It acts as an intermediary between the operating system and the compiled program. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods represents the earliest approach to programming?

Direct input of binary code (0,1). (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why might a programmer choose to distribute a program in source code when using an interpreted language?

Because the interpreter needs the source code to execute the program. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a processor's instruction decoder do?

It translates instructions into smaller steps for the processor. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What determines the number of compilers theoretically needed for a programming language?

The number of target platforms. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of program creation, what is 'coding'?

The translation of program logic into a specific programming language. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Program Creation

Creating programs, sometimes called coding, historically involved direct input (0,1) for digital systems, evolving to more understandable commands translated by compilers.

Modern Programming

A method of programming that uses graphical symbols, and now artificial intelligence adapts programs to changing conditions.

Machine Code Programming

Programming done at the processor instruction level or in hexadecimal, sometimes using an assembler (a type of compiler).

Compiler

Translates source code (human-readable) to machine code for a specific platform. One is needed for each targeted platform.

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Interpreter

Translates source code to machine code at runtime, instruction by instruction. The program is distributed in source code.

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High-Level Language

A programming language that does NOT need to know underlying OS.

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Object Code

Machine code in binary format.

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Study Notes

Program creation, including operating systems, uses programming, sometimes called coding
Historically, it evolved from direct input (log.0, log.1) for digital systems to using more understandable commands which translators (HW or SW) convert into processor instructions
Later, iconographic programming using graphic symbols emerged, and today, AI adapts programs to changing conditions

Programming Levels

Machine Code Level: Specific to a platform and its family of processors + OS
- Can be done by direct input (0,1), hexadecimal, or mnemonic code with an assembler
- Assemblers translate into machine code
- Programmers need to understand the processor's structure, instructions and hardware
- The processor then breaks each instruction down further, performing steps inside the processor (moving 0,1 through circuits), which has external effects
Higher-Level Languages: Machine independent
- Programmers don't need to know the processor or OS structure
- A translator helps, the programmer uses a programming language, and the translator converts the source code into machine code for a specific platform (like IA64 and Windows 64 bit)
- Has processor instructions and API OS functions
- Translators can translate source code from a programming language into the machine code of a platform as many times as required

Compilers

Translates source code to machine code for a specific platform
Programmers must have compilers to translate source code
Distributes using the compilers machine code = processor instructions and OS API
Compilers translate, link the program and allow you to distribute
The process is comparable to translating a book
File examples are *.exe

Interpreters

Translates source code to machine code
As many interpreters must be there as the number of the platforms as required for a specific platform
Program translation happens when executed
Interpreters translates instructions one-by-one
Program files are distributed in source code (or object code) like *.html, *.bat