Source-code compatibility: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|When a program must be compiled/interpreted before another computer can run it}}

In [[computing]], a [[central processing unit|computer ]] that can run the same [[source code]] intended to be [[compile]]d and run on another computer is said to be '''source-compatible'''.

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

'''Source-code compatibility''' (source-compatible) means that a program can run on [[central processing unit|computers]] (or [[operating system]]s), independently of [[binary-code compatibility]] and that the [[source code]] is needed for [[Software portability|portability]].<ref name="Baron Higbie 1992" />

The source code must be [[Interpreter (computing)compiler|Interpreterscompiled]] (thisbefore isrunning, unless the casecomputer ofused ahas fewan [[bytecodeInterpreter (computing)|interpreter]] processors)for the language at hand.<ref Confusingly,name="Data sometimesProcessing theDigest 1980" /> The term is also used for [[assembly language]] compatibility, where the source is alreadya [[human-readable]] form of [[machine code]] butthat must be converted tointo numerical (i.e. executable) machine code by an [[Assembly language#Assembler|assembler]]. This is different from [[binary -code compatibility]], where no recompilation (or assembly) is needed.<ref name="Stern Monti Bachmann 1998" />

The source code must be [[compiler|compiled]] before running, unless the computers can work as

[[Interpreter (computing)|Interpreters]] (this is the case of a few [[bytecode]] processors). Confusingly, sometimes the term is used for [[assembly language]] compatibility, where the source is already [[human-readable]] [[machine code]] but must be converted to executable code by an [[Assembly language#Assembler|assembler]]. This is different from [[binary code compatibility]], where no recompilation is needed.

Source- compatibility is a major issue in the developing of computer programs. For example, most [[Unix]] systems are source -compatible, as long as one uses only standard [[library (computing)|libraries]]. [[Microsoft Windows]] systems are source -compatible across one major family (the [[Windows NT,]] 2000family, XPfrom [[Windows NT 3.1|NT 3.1]] through [[Windows 11]], or the family that includes [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98]], MEand [[Windows Me]]), with partial source compatibility between the two families.

== See also ==

* [[Binary code compatability]]

* [[Backward compatibility]]

* [[Source upgrade]]

== References ==

{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="Baron Higbie 1992">{{cite book

| last1 = Baron

| first1 = R.J.

| last2 = Higbie

| first2 = L.

| title = Computer Architecture

| publisher = Addison-Wesley Publishing Company

| series = Addison-Wesley series in electrical and computer engineering

| year = 1992

| isbn = 978-0-201-50923-6

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CNdQAAAAMAAJ

| access-date = 9 May 2018

| page = 106

}}</ref>

<ref name="Data Processing Digest 1980">{{cite book

| title = Data Processing Digest

| publisher = Data Processing Digest, Incorporated

| issue = v. 26–27

| year = 1980

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KaVIAAAAYAAJ

| access-date = 9 May 2018

| page = 21

}}</ref>

<ref name="Stern Monti Bachmann 1998">{{cite book

| last1 = Stern

| first1 = M.

| last2 = Monti

| first2 = G.

| last3 = Bachmann

| first3 = V.

| title = NT Enterprise Network Design

| publisher = Sybex, Network Press

| year = 1998

| isbn = 978-0-7821-2156-8

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ixuh0wTZ4GwC

| language = et

| access-date = 9 May 2018

| page = 17

}}</ref>

}}

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[[Category:Backward compatibility]]

[[Category:ComputerSource programmingcode]]

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[[Category:Source code]

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