stages of compilation

• white spaces + comments removed

• code left is turned into tokens

• symbol table created, on variables data type + scope

• syntax checked against rules of language

• abstract syntax tree created

• token breaks syntax rule then error sheet generated

• passes code to code generation

• abstract syntax tree converted to object code

  
  

• removing redundant code

• makes file as small and fast as possible

A library is prewritten code, that can be run when needed

• pretested

• precompiled

• difficult to implement changes

• problem if discontinued

• if updated then have to recompile

ensures modules + external libraries are linked together correctly (at end)

part of OS that loads machine code into RAM for execution