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QbasicFAQ_WhatIsAInterpreter
What is an "interpreter"?
Back to QBasic FAQ Main Page.
An interpreter is a program that reads the sourcecode and translates it's output as code that runs as a program. The "translation" is a run time compilation to memory only. It is a full compilation, unlike the line-at-a-time compilation of past interpreters. This is done every time the program is invoked, and can be much slower than a compiled program. (This form of compilation makes QBasic faster than previous languages, but still not as fast as a fully compiled EXE.)
This differs from a compiled program where code is actually ready for execution when the program is invoked. Compilation needs only be done once to create the program. Compiled programs cannot be edited; the sourcecode must be edited, then recompiled.
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QbasicFAQ_WhatIsAInterpreter
What is an "interpreter"?
Back to QBasic FAQ Main Page.
An interpreter is a program that reads the sourcecode and translates it's output as code that runs as a program. The "translation" is a run time compilation to memory only. It is a full compilation, unlike the line-at-a-time compilation of past interpreters. This is done every time the program is invoked, and can be much slower than a compiled program. (This form of compilation makes QBasic faster than previous languages, but still not as fast as a fully compiled EXE.)
This differs from a compiled program where code is actually ready for execution when the program is invoked. Compilation needs only be done once to create the program. Compiled programs cannot be edited; the sourcecode must be edited, then recompiled.
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