clipped from: www.cprogramming.com   

What is a compiler?

A compiler is necessary to make your source code (..c, .cpp, or .cc files) into a running program.

Compiler terminology

  • Compile Colloquially, to convert a source code file into an executable, but strictly speaking, compilation is an intermediate step
  • Link The act of taking compiled code and turning it into an executable
  • Build A build refers to the process of creating the end executable (what is often colloquially refered to as compilation). Tools exits to help reduce the complexity of the build process--makefiles, for instance.
  • Compiler Generally, compiler refers to both a compiler and a "linker"
  • Linker The program that generates the executable by linking
  • IDE Integrated Development Environment, a combination of a text editor and a compiler, such that you can compile and run your programs directly within the IDE. IDEs usually have facilities to help you quickly jump to compiler errors.