Difference Between Compiler and Interpreter

In this article, we will talk about interpreter and compiler programming languages ​​and their advantages and disadvantages.

We generally write a computer program using a high-level language. A high-level language is one that is understandable by us, humans. This is called source code.

However, a computer does not understand high-level language. It only understands the program written in 0's and 1's in binary, called the machine code.

To convert source code into machine code, we use either a compiler or an interpreter.

Both compilers and interpreters are used to convert a program written in a high-level language into machine code understood by computers. However, there are differences between how an interpreter and a compiler works.

Okay… but what does that actually mean?

Imagine you have a Kabuli Pulao recipe that you want to make, but it is written in Pashto and you are not a Pashto speaker. There are two ways to read that recipe.

The first is if someone had already translated it into English for you. You (and anyone else who can speak English) could read the English version of the recipe and make Kabuli Pulao. Think of this translated recipe as the compiled version.

The second way is if you have a friend who knows Pashto. When you're ready to make Kabuli Pulao, your friend will sit next to you and translate the recipe line by line into English as you go. In this case, your friend is the translator of the interpreted version of the command.

Compiled Languages

Compiled languages are converted directly into machine code that the processor can execute. As a result, they tend to be faster and more efficient to execute than interpreted languages. They also give the developer more control over hardware aspects, like memory management and CPU usage.

Compiled languages need a “build” step – they need to be manually compiled first. You need to “rebuild” the program every time you need to make a change. In our Kabuli Pulao example, the entire translation is written before it gets to you. If the original author decides that he wants to use a different kind of olive oil, the entire recipe would need to be translated again and resent to you.

Examples of pure compiled languages are C, C++, Rust, and Go.

Interpreted Languages

Interpreters run through a program line by line and execute each command. Here, if the author decides he wants to use a different kind of olive oil, he could scratch the old one out and add the new one. Your translator friend can then convey that change to you as it happens.

Interpreted languages were once significantly slower than compiled languages. But, with the development of just-in-time compilation, that gap is shrinking.

Examples of common interpreted languages are PHP, Ruby, Python, and JavaScript.

Most programming languages can have both compiled and interpreted implementations – the language itself is not necessarily compiled or interpreted. However, for simplicity’s sake, they’re typically referred to as such.

Python, for example, can be executed as either a compiled program or as an interpreted language in interactive mode. On the other hand, most command line tools, CLIs, and shells can theoretically be classified as interpreted languages.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of Compiler Languages:

• Performance: Compiler languages typically generate faster and more efficient machine code, as the entire program is translated before execution.

• Portability: Once compiled, the program can be executed on any machine that supports the target architecture, without requiring the presence of a compiler.

• Optimization: Compilers can apply various optimization techniques.

• Error checking: Compilers can perform extensive error checking during the compilation process, catching many potential issues before the program is executed.

Disadvantages of Compiler Languages:

• Development time: Compilation can be time-consuming, especially for large programs, as the entire codebase needs to be compiled each time it is modified.

• Debugging: Since the code is translated before execution, it can be more challenging to debug compiled programs compared to interpreted ones.

• Platform dependence: Compilers generate machine code specific to the target architecture, limiting the portability of the compiled program to other platforms.

• Learning curve: Compiler languages often have a steeper learning curve compared to interpreted languages, as they require knowledge of low-level concepts and memory management.

Advantages of Interpreter Languages:

• Development speed: Interpreted languages typically have faster development cycles, as changes to the code can be tested immediately without requiring compilation.

• Ease of debugging: Interpreters provide more flexibility in terms of debugging, as they can provide detailed error messages and allow for interactive debugging.

• Platform independence: Interpreted languages can be executed on any platform that has an interpreter available, making them highly portable.

• Dynamic typing: Interpreted languages often support dynamic typing, allowing for more flexibility in terms of variable types and easier prototyping.

Disadvantages of Interpreter Languages:

• Performance: Interpreted languages are generally slower than compiled languages, as the code needs to be translated line-by-line during execution.

• Dependency on interpreter: Interpreted languages require the presence of an interpreter on the target machine, which may limit the distribution of the program.

• Limited optimization: Interpreters have limited opportunities for optimization compared to compilers, resulting in potentially slower execution.

• Runtime errors: Since the code is executed directly, runtime errors may occur during program execution, making it necessary to handle them appropriately.