Translators

Translators

1. Low Level Code

   • Low level code is the code closest to machine code, or binary. It is difficult to understand, and is often far removed from any spoken language.

2. High Level Code

   • High level code is code that is easy to understand, and user friendly. It often closely resembles English (like python), and is therefore often easier to code with

3. Purpose of a translator

   • Translators convert low or high level code into binary, so that it can interpreted by the CPU

4. Types of Translators

   • Compiler
     • Translates a large amount of code in one go, and produces a list of errors at the end, instead of stopping every time it finds one. Useful for mass translation and getting things done without supervision. Not useful when you want to be able to correct code as you go through, instead of having to look over it at the end, searching and correcting errors.
     • Compilers converts the whole program into machine code before the program is run
   • Interpreter
     • Translates code line by line, and comes to you with any mistakes it finds, as it finds them. Can often be a long and tedious process. Gets the actual translation done quickly, but requires supervision. Not useful with larger batches of code.
     • Interpreters convert the high level language instructions one at a time executing them before moving on.
   • Assembler
     • Translate assembly language’s mnemonics like ADD, STA, INP to machine code.