what are assembelers,loaders,combilers,and linkers?

Answer by Matthew Mondor
Submitted on 7/2/2003
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An assembler consists of software which task is to convert processor-specific human readable instructions to processor native machine language (the actual code which your processor uses). A compiler is a similar utility but which generates native machine language from generally processor-independant source code, I.E. C language. The linker is responsible for merging together the components resulting from assembling and/or compilation with other required components to produce a finished binary product, notably an executable of library. A loader is usually part of a system and makes sure to process the given files to be used. For instance, the executable loader of your Operating System will most likely also perform dynamic library linking at runtime when loading the application before actually jumping at it's entry point.Although loader is a fairly generic term which in other circumstances could have nothing to do with the OS but with a particular application.

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Question by samah
Submitted on 6/29/2003
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what are assembelers,loaders,combilers,and linkers?

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