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Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler?

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Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au>:

> Yes, that's because the C language is low-level enough that a compiler
> can target directly the host CPU's machine code. A Python program,
> though, is written in a dynamic language, which is compiled to a
> virtual machine code, which needs the Python virtual machine as well
> to interpret that machine code.

More generally, both C and Python programs are run with the assistance
of a run-time environment. C programs are compiled in such a way that a
single compiled file is enough to start up the program. Python programs
*could* easily be compiled the same way, but it generally hasn't been
considered all that useful.


Marko

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Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Mahan Marwat <mahanmarwat@gmail.com> - 2015-08-31 01:35 -0700
  Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-08-31 18:49 +1000
  Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Cameron Simpson <cs@zip.com.au> - 2015-08-31 19:59 +1000
  Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-08-31 21:41 +1000
    Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-08-31 16:39 +0300
      Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Mahan Marwat <mahanmarwat@gmail.com> - 2015-08-31 10:48 -0700
        Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Emile van Sebille <emile@fenx.com> - 2015-08-31 10:56 -0700
        Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Ben Finney <ben+python@benfinney.id.au> - 2015-09-01 09:15 +1000
        Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Luca Menegotto <otlucaDELETE@DELETEyahoo.it> - 2015-09-01 07:45 +0200
          Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2015-09-01 11:21 -0600
        Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-09-01 09:51 +0200
        Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-09-02 01:20 +1000
          Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-09-01 19:20 +0300
            Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-09-02 03:06 +1000
            Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-09-01 19:33 +0200
              Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-09-01 23:08 +0300
                Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2015-09-02 10:50 +1000
                Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-09-02 09:09 +0200
                Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? wxjmfauth@gmail.com - 2015-09-02 01:25 -0700
            Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Laura Creighton <lac@openend.se> - 2015-09-01 19:52 +0200
            Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2015-09-02 12:49 +1000
              Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Marko Rauhamaa <marko@pacujo.net> - 2015-09-02 06:58 +0300
              Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Jussi Piitulainen <harvesting@makes.address.invalid> - 2015-09-02 08:59 +0300
  Re: Why Python is not both an interpreter and a compiler? Michael Torrie <torriem@gmail.com> - 2015-09-01 21:46 -0600

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