How
the program is converted to machine code? What are the steps involved
in it?
First
of all, The code has to be written in any text editor and save the
file with an extension of ".c"
for c program and ".cpp"
for the C++ programs. The name of the file can be anything (it
doesn't matter), but the file extension is required. Now the program
is ready to convert it into a language that machine can understand
(also for the compiler to execute).
Generally
in any compiler,the process involves in 3 steps:
1.Preprocessing
2.Compiling
3.Linking
Preprocessing
:
First,
The program is given to the preprocessor that obeys(look at) the
commands which starts with "#",
generally called as "Directives".
It will add the extra code that is required for the directives to
execute. It like a editor that add the things to the program and make
the modifications. Infact the preprocessor is integrated with the
compiler, so we probably even notice it at work.
Compiling
:
Now
the modified program goes to the compiler and it converts into the
machine instructions called "ObjectCode".
After compiling, the object file is created (.obj file). The
program is not ready to run yet.
Linking
:
Then
after, Linker combines the object code
produced by the compiler to yield the complete executable program
with an extra additional code added. The extra code that was added
here includes the addition of library functions like printf
etc. Finally after this, an executable file is created, that is ready
to run the program. Probably this linking step is automated by the
compiler
The
commands necessary to compile and link are vary for the one operating
systems to another.
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