Software Development Environment

Question 1

Editor

Answer 1

Allows a programmer to enter, format and edit source code

Question 2

Compiler

Answer 2

Converts source code into executable machine code and, once compiled, a program can be run at any time

Question 3

Interpreter

Answer 3

Converts each line of source code into machine code, and executes it as each line of code is run, which is performed each time the program needs to be run

Question 4

Linker

Answer 4

A program which allows previously compiled code, from software libraries, to be linked together

Question 5

Loader

Answer 5

A program which loads previously compiled code into memory

Question 6

Debugger

Answer 6

A program which helps locate, identify and rectify errors in a program

Question 7

Trace

Answer 7

A facility which displays the order in which the lines of a program are executed, and possibly the values of variables as the program is being run

Question 8

Break point

Answer 8

A facility which interrupts a program on a specific line of code, allowing the programmer to compare the values of variables against expected values

Question 9

Variable watch

Answer 9

A facility which displays the current value of any variable. The value can be ‘watched’ as the program code is single-stepped to see the effects of the code on the variable

Question 10

Memory inspector

Answer 10

A facility which will display the contents of a section of memory

Question 11

Error diagnostics

Answer 11

Error messages are displayed to help the programmer diagnose what has gone wrong