How does the computer understand the language of the compiler?

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pandaa2020-05-02 17:41:22

Programming languages

pandaa, 2020-05-02 17:41:22

The Chicken and Egg Problem

A compiler is a program that translates source code into machine code. And since it is a program, it is also written in some language. Then how does the computer (processor) understand the language of the compiler? If it is essentially itself written in the same programming language that compiles?

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3 answer(s)

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Denis Zagaevsky, 2020-05-02
@pandaa

See "compiler promotion". Briefly, the first compiler is written for a minimal subset of the language in another language (or at the very beginning of the century - in assembler, in mashcodes), then a compiler is written on this subset that can compile this subset, and then language features are built iteratively. A sort of dog food.

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15432, 2020-05-02
@15432

Naturally, the compiler is also compiled into machine code and executed like this on the processor.

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xmoonlight, 2020-05-02
@xmoonlight

Just like an interpreter understands the two linguistic sides of speakers who do not understand each other without him.