Compiler

/kəmˈpaɪlə/ noun

Definition

A compiler is a person or tool that gathers and organizes information into a single work. In computing, it is a special program that translates source code written by humans into machine code a computer can execute.

Etymology

From Late Latin *compilator* “one who compiles,” from *compilare* “to gather, collect.” The computing sense borrows this idea for transforming and assembling code.

Kelly Says

A software compiler is like a strict translator: it takes your human-friendly code and turns it into the exact binary instructions a machine understands, no more and no less. Tiny mistakes that humans would ignore can completely stop a compiler, which is why programming can feel unforgiving.

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