Preprocessor directives cause the preprocessor to change your code in some way (by usually adding some library or another C++ file). The preprocessor searches for any preprocessor directives (lines of code starting with a #). When you run a compiler on your code, first, the preprocessor reads the source code (the C++ file you just wrote). How compilers workĬompilers are utility programs that take your code and transform it into executable machine code files. Languages like JavaScript and Python have components that get translated into C++ or other low level languages before they get compiled, effectively making them “higher” languages than C or C++.īecause computer architecture is made up of electronic switches and cables that can only work with binary 1s and 0s, you need a compiler to translate your code from high level C++ to machine language that the CPU can understand. Languages like C, C++, and COBOL are a little higher and need to be compiled down. So, we humans developed programming languages to make it easier to develop software.Īssembly language is a direct 1 to 1 with machine language. While it would be possible to program in binary, it would be incredibly tedious and time consuming. Machine language is entirely made up of binary bits, or 0s and 1s. When all is said and done, computers only understand one language, machine language.

In order to get started with C++, you will need to learn a little about compilers and how C++ runs on your computer.

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