ProgrammingSequence, selection, iteration, procedures, functions, modules, parameters, compilers, interpreters

Types of Code

Syllabus Detail

  • Types; source, executable 11 ATAR, 12 GEN, 12 ATAR

Background

  • Code is a system of words, letters, symbols or characters that are processed by a computer in order to perform specific functions
  • Computer code is the instructions carried out to run programs
  • Code exists in two forms, source code and executable code

 

Source Code

  • Source code can be seen as the "before" code of a program
  • It exists as plain text that has yet to be compiled or interpreted
  • Source code contains the exact content of the program to be compiled; yet does not perform any function
  • Programmers often write code in text editors such as NotePad++, once a file is saved as a file it becomes source code until executed
  • Try it yourself! Right-click on this webpage and select the option to "View Page Source"

 

Executable Code

  • Executable code (or object code) is the low-level language that is executed when compiled or interpreted
  • Once a compiler or interpreter has done its job with the source code, the resulting low-level code (or machine code) is executed
  • Machine code is the hardware-specific code that is translated in to instructions to be carried out
  • Executable code, unlike source code, is responsible for performing specified functions

Byte Code

  • Bytecode is code that is processed by a virtual machine (VM). The VM translates it to machine code.Examples of translators are Java Virtual Machine, Python.

 

Further Research

  • An essay on Source Code vs. Executable Code by CMU here
  • C Source Vs Object Code by C4Learn.com here

 

Worksheet and Practice (yet to be added)

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