This study notes covers Exam Tips within Translators for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Translators in 3.4 Computer Systems for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 8 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 7 of 8 in this topic. Use this study notes to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Exam Tips
- Both needed: Compiled programs are faster to run; interpreted is faster to develop/test
- Source code: Interpreter needs source every time; compiler creates standalone .exe
- Error finding: Interpreter finds errors as it runs; compiler finds all before running
Practice questions for Translators
Which type of translator converts an entire high-level language program into machine code before the program runs?
Explain why a compiled program runs faster than an interpreted program.
Quick recall flashcards
What does a compiler do?
Translates entire program into executable file at once
What does an assembler do?
Converts assembly language to machine code