kompileras

Kompiliaras is the term used in some languages, including Lithuanian, for a compiler. A compiler is a program that translates source code written in a programming language into lower-level code, typically machine code or an intermediate form such as bytecode. The goal is to enable developers to write in expressive, high-level languages while producing executable instructions that run efficiently on hardware, with the original program semantics preserved.

Typical compilation involves several stages. Lexical analysis converts the source into tokens; syntactic analysis (parsing) builds a program structure from those tokens. Semantic analysis checks meaning and types, and an intermediate representation is formed. The back end translates the IR into target-specific code and performs optimizations. The final output can be object code or a standalone executable, and linking may be performed by a separate tool after compilation.

Compilers differ in strategy and scope. Ahead-of-time (AOT) compilers generate native code before execution, while just-in-time (JIT) compilers produce code during runtime, often within managed environments such as virtual machines. Some compilers apply extensive runtime optimizations and inlining to improve performance. Front ends are language-specific, back ends are architecture-specific, and a common intermediate representation enables portable optimizations and easier retargeting to new hardware. Cross-compilers target a different architecture than the host machine.

Common examples include GCC and Clang for C and C++, MSVC for Windows, and javac for Java. Other languages have their own compilers, including Rust, Go, Kotlin, and many domain-specific languages. Compilation remains a central step in software development, balancing accuracy, speed of translation, and resulting runtime performance.