Re: Compiler types?

AndrewJ <luminous-is@home.com> wrote:


>On 11 Sep 2000 02:16:48 -0400, "Constantin Werner" <cwerner@gmx.de> wrote:
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>the types of compilers are classified in:
>>- one-pass compilers
>>- multi-pass compilers
>>- load and go compiler
>>- optimizing compilers
>>- ...and some other
>>
>>can anybody tell me whats the difference between all mentioned 4 compiler
>>types? i was not able to find any explanation in science books :-(
>>thanks
>
>While I'm no expert of compiler methods and such, even I'm able to
>realize what most of these describe.
>
>One pass compiler: a compiler that translates the source unit in a
>single pass


          . . .possibly with a patch-up phase, but the source code is
looked at only once.


>Multi pass compiler: a compiler that translates the source unit in two
>or more passes
>
>Load and go compiler: not sure, never seen this terminology, unless
>you're talking about an interpreter
>
>Optimizing compiler: a compiler that optimizes the translated code,
>usually during the code generation phase (?)... it makes the code run
>better on the particular architecture it is compiling for (ie using
>shifts instead of multiplies, loop unrolling etc...)
>--
>AndrewJ
>[Load and go compiles directly into memory and immediately runs the code.
>They used to be quite popular, not any more. -John]


          To add to our Esteemed Moderator's point, they're good for where
the code will be run only once or a few times. Typically, they don't
bother with [|much] optimization. In the mainframe days, on campus,
they were often used for student jobs.


          There is also Just-In-Time compilation. The code is compiled as
necessary and runs in an interpreted framework. Code that is not
executed doesn't get compiled. This works for languages where the
meaning of a statement is fairly easy to tell from the statement only.
e.g. BASIC but not C.


Sincerely,


Gene Wirchenko

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