Disadvantages of a compiler

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. A programmer has 200 lines of code with one syntax error on line 150. What happens when they compile it?

A No executable is produced, so none of the program can be run until the error is fixed

B Lines 1 to 149 run and the compiler stops at line 150

2. Which is a disadvantage of using a compiler while developing a program?

A After every small change, the whole program must be recompiled before testing

B Only the changed line needs to be translated, which makes testing confusing

3. A student compiles a program on a Windows PC. Which statement is correct?

A The executable file will work on every type of computer without changes

B The executable file may not work on a different type of machine, such as a Mac

4. Which statement about testing part of a program with a compiler is true?

A You can run one finished section while other sections still contain errors

B You cannot test one section until the whole program compiles without errors

5. Which is a DISADVANTAGE of a compiler?

A The program must be recompiled for each different type of machine

B The executable runs without the compiler being needed

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1compile(whole_program) -> 3 errors, no executable		AA compiler does not run any part of the program if there are errors. It translates the whole program first, and nothing runs until all errors are removed.
2change 1 line -> recompile everything -> run		BIF errors_found THEN no_executable ELSE run
3Errors must be cleared before any part of the program will run		CTesting even a small change is slow because the whole program has to be translated again before it can be tried
4An executable is machine dependent and only works on one type of machine		DThe executable is machine dependent. It only works on the type of machine it was compiled for, so it must be recompiled for each different machine type.
5Line 5 is correct, so a compiler will run lines 1 to 5 and stop at the error on line 6		EThe compiler stops and produces no executable, so no part of the program can run until every error is fixed
6Compiled once on a PC, so the same executable will run on any phone, tablet or Mac		Fprog_windows.exe on Mac -> fails to run

Definitions

compiler disadvantages

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

compiled ← _______(sourceCode)

IF errorCount _ 0 THEN OUTPUT "Fix errors first" ENDIF

IF machineType = targetType THEN run(__________) ENDIF

edit(line5) _______(program) run(program)

IF errorCount = _ THEN run(executable) ENDIF

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A edit one line of the code

B compile the whole program

C wait for translation to end

D run the old executable

Question 2

A compile game.c

B error found on line 12

C partial executable is made

Question 3

A compile one line at a time

B fix every error reported

C run the executable

Question 4

A built on a Windows PC

B exe is machine independent

C it will not run on a Mac

Question 5

A change one number in code

B recompile the whole program

C testing small changes is fast

Answer Key

Disadvantages of a compiler

Section A: Quick Questions

A — No executable is produced, so none of the program can be run until the error is fixed

A — After every small change, the whole program must be recompiled before testing

B — The executable file may not work on a different type of machine, such as a Mac

B — You cannot test one section until the whole program compiles without errors

A — The program must be recompiled for each different type of machine

Section B: Match the Pairs

compile(whole_program) -> 3 errors, no executable → The compiler stops and produces no executable, so no part of the program can run until every error is fixed

change 1 line -> recompile everything -> run → Testing even a small change is slow because the whole program has to be translated again before it can be tried

Errors must be cleared before any part of the program will run → IF errors_found THEN no_executable ELSE run

An executable is machine dependent and only works on one type of machine → prog_windows.exe on Mac -> fails to run

Line 5 is correct, so a compiler will run lines 1 to 5 and stop at the error on line 6 → A compiler does not run any part of the program if there are errors. It translates the whole program first, and nothing runs until all errors are removed.

Compiled once on a PC, so the same executable will run on any phone, tablet or Mac → The executable is machine dependent. It only works on the type of machine it was compiled for, so it must be recompiled for each different machine type.

Section C: Definitions

compiler disadvantages — A compiler must translate the whole program without errors before any of it runs, and its executable only works on one machine type, so testing small changes is slow.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

compiled ← compile(sourceCode)

IF errorCount > 0 THEN
    OUTPUT "Fix errors first"
ENDIF

IF machineType = targetType THEN
    run(executable)
ENDIF

edit(line5)
compile(program)
run(program)

IF errorCount = 0 THEN
    run(executable)
ENDIF

Section E: Spot the Error

D — The old executable does not contain the change. With a compiler the whole program must be recompiled, then the new executable is run to test the change.

C — A compiler must translate the whole program without errors. If there is an error, no executable is made and no part of the program can run.

A — A compiler translates the whole program before anything runs. Translating one line at a time is how an interpreter works.

B — A compiled executable only works on the type of machine it was compiled for, so it is machine dependent, not independent.

C — Even a tiny change means recompiling the whole program before it can be tested, so testing small changes is slow, not fast.