Interpreters versus Compilers

Both Interpreters versus Compilers are translators for our human readable codes/programs to a computer. Computer do not under English, German or Finnish. Computer understands machine language in form of bunch of 1’s and 0’s. So let us dive into how to communicate with the computer as programmer.

So interpreter does what it exactly states, it interprets line by line sets of instructions. It is always in between the progam we write and the computer. Generally, it is kicks in right away and runs slowly since it is line by line and it is is runs basically every time we write a line of code, you see the results of interpreters right away. So we have an opportunity to make a small change along the way

On the other hand, compiler does exactly opposite, it runs the entire program we write all at once. So it might takes some time to complete the translation of let’s say the entire code base of about 1000 lines or couple of modules and files in the entire package/software. But when the whole preparation is complete, it runs very fast compare to interpreter since it does not have an overhead of always waiting for input from our program for every line we write.

So there you go, that is how we can talk to the aliens in the computer world. Aliens means the bunch of switching circuits and transistors. So see you another time.