In the world of computing, a source code is the collection of different computer instructions, sometimes with comments that are written using computer language that is human readable and is usually in the form of text. It is created with the intention of facilitating the computer programmer's work, especially those who specify the specific actions that a computer has to perform and this is achieved by the writing of different source codes.
In many cases, they are transformed by the compiler program into a machine code that is at a low level and this is a language that the computer is able to understand. This machine code can be stored so as to be executed at a time in the future. Also, an interpreter may be used so as to make an analysis and to perform outcomes of different source code programs in a direct way.
Many computer apps are usually distributed in the form that usually includes some executable files, but without their own codes. If such apps were to include the source code, then they would prove to be very useful to the system administrator, the programmer and the user. This also makes it very easy for such a program to be modified and it is easy to understand just how it works.
Apart from this machine readable form that we have covered, source codes also make an appearance in different media including books. This is usually as small code snippets and occasionally, they can be complete code bases. They can also be taken in a broader way so as to include different machine notations and codes in a graphical language which isn't textual in its nature. So as to be clear, they can mean the software system that is fully executable. The best ones therefore include graphical representations, high level languages and machine code.
Uses of source codes
Source codes are normally used as input during the process of producing different executable program i.e., the interpreted or the compiled. It is also a communication method for algorithms in between persons like the code snippets that are found within the books.
For computer programmers, it is always a great thing to be able to review source codes that already exist and to learn different programming techniques that are being used in the world. The sharing of these codes in between the programmers is cited as a great factor that contributes to the maturing of different programming skills. There are also people who view them as an artistic medium that is expressive.
The quality of source codes
How a certain program is written has a very important consequence for different maintainers. There are some coding conventions which put emphasis on readability as well as various language specific conventions. These are aimed at maintenance of different software source codes involving updating and debugging. There are other priorities such as the ability to compile and speed of executing such programs for different architectures and this make the readability of the codes a consideration that isn't so important. The quality of a code lies strongly on the purpose it is meant for.
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