Translators

Compilers

Translators are special software that convert source code into executable binary. Compilers are just one type of translator:

Compilers

Compilers translate the whole of a program in one go.
Compilers will provide a list of errors once it has attempted the compilation process:
- This can make debugging easier.
C, C++, Visual Basic, and Swift are all compiled languages.

Pros of compilers

Compilers produce an executable program:
- There is no need to repeat this process more than once per version of the software.
Compilers hide the source code from the end user:
- This helps to protect developers' intellectual property.

Cons of compilers

The compilation process can be very slow:
- This can slow down development if many small changes need to be made.

Interpreters

Interpreters are a type of translator which converts high level languages to executable machine code.

Interpreters

Interpreters translate high-level source code into executable binary one line at a time.
Python and JavaScript are examples of interpreted languages.

Pros of interpreters

Interpreters will stop as soon as they encounter an error:
- This is useful for debugging.
Interpreted languages are 'portable':
- This means that they can be run on many different types of central processing unit as long as there is an interpreter available for the platform.

Cons of interpreters

Running an interpreted program is slower than a compiled program because we have to translate each line every time we run the software.
- But it is quicker to get started which can be good for small changes.
Interpreters do not produce a compiled program file:
- The process must be repeated each time the program is run.

Assemblers

Assemblers translate assembly code into executable binary.

Assemblers

Assembly is a very low-level programming language.
Each instruction directly corresponds to a binary sequence, and the assembler replaces the commands with the relevant binary.

Pros of assemblers

Assembly provides exact control over the hardware:
- This can lead to very efficient code that takes up little space in memory and is quick to execute.
Assembly can be used on low specification machines.

Cons of assemblers

Assembly is very difficult to use, and needs deep technical knowledge of the central processing unit and the memory.

1Components of a Computer

1.1Structure & Function of the Processor

1.1.1Structure of the CPU

1.1.2Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle

1.1.3Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.1.4CPU Architecture

1.2Types of Processors

1.2.1CISC & RISC

1.2.2Multicore & Parallel Cores

1.3Input, Output & Storage

1.3.1Computer Systems

1.3.2Magnetic Storage

1.3.3Optical Storage

1.3.4Types of Optical Storage

1.3.5Types of Memory

1.3.6Flash Memory

1.3.7Virtual Memory

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

4.1Data Types

4.1.1Data Types

4.1.2Arrays & Strings

4.1.3Representing Numbers

4.1.4Binary Arithmetic

4.1.5Hexadecimal

4.1.6Converting Binary Numbers

4.1.7Floating Points in Binary

4.1.8Floating Point Arithmetic

4.1.9Bitwise Manipulation

4.1.10Character Sets

4.2Data Structures

4.2.1Arrays, Linked Lists & Queues

4.2.2Graphs, Hash Tables & Stacks

4.2.3Trees

4.3Boolean Algebra

4.3.1Computational Logic

4.3.2Boolean Logic

4.3.3Karnaugh Maps

4.3.4Boolean Identities

4.3.5Flip Flops & Adder Circuits

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

5.1Computing Related Legislation

5.1.1Data Protection Act (1998)

5.1.2Computer Misuse Act (1990)

5.1.3Copyright Designs and Patents Act (1988)

5.1.4Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000)

5.2Moral & Ethical Issues

5.2.1Online Activity Tracking

5.2.2Censorship

5.2.3Cultural Issues

5.2.4Environmental Issues

5.2.5Layout, Colour Paradigms & Character Sets

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.1.1Abstraction

6.2Thinking Procedurally

6.2.1Decomposition

6.3Thinking Logically

6.3.1Pseudocode & Flow Diagrams

7Problem Solving & Programming

7.1Programming Techniques

7.1.1Programming Fundamentals

7.1.2Modularity

7.2Programming Construction

7.2.1Integrated Development Environments

7.2.2Testing

8Algorithms

8.1Algorithms

8.1.1Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm

8.1.2Sort Algorithms

8.1.3Insertion & Merge Sort

8.1.4Search Algorithms

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