Wednesday 23 March 2011

Software Development

High Level Languages
+ Written in an English like Language, means they are easier to understand than Low Level Languages - like 1010101's
+ Portable, means they can be used on different platforms (different Operating Systems, Processors)
+Must be translated before they can be executed

Translators
Interpreter
Translates and executes one line of code at a time
+ excellent for debugging, as it stops when an error is found and will not move beyond that line
- needs to be always running in memory

Compiler
Translates and executes the full program at once
+ gives an executable file once the program has been successfully translated
- not great for debugging as it returns all the errors at once (could be loads!)