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The machine interprets your program's symbols according to the language rules. Hence, all machines are interpreters. Some of the interpreting goes on in hardwar
by dmoney 17y ago
The machine interprets your program's symbols according to the language rules. Hence, all machines are interpreters. Some of the interpreting goes on in hardware, and some in software.
I remember having a similar epiphany: that all languages are always interpreted. I believe my next thought was "so what?". I suppose it might be a good thing to remember if implementing a new language.
- rw 17y agoWell, maybe "reality" isn't interpreted :)
- eru 17y agoYes. But some languages get compiler before they get interpreted. For example Python (in the cPython version). And there's a continuum between interpretation and compilation. Threaded interpreters like they are common for Forth are quite close to compilers.