Open source C compilers are free software that compile human-readable programming code into binary code for specific computer systems. They are maintained by a community and are platform independent, allowing for write once, run anywhere programming. The community’s diversity keeps compilers up-to-date and allows for constant improvement. However, not all projects are completed, and sometimes development outweighs documentation and testing efforts. The open source community has a strong interest in seeing a stable compiler for individual use.
An open source C compiler is software intended to transform human-readable programming code into binary code that can be executed natively by a specific computer system. The C programming language and compilers strive to be platform independent, allowing for a write once, run anywhere programming paradigm. This is accomplished by taking the human readable source files and recompiling them with a compiler for every system the code might run on. The development of open source C compilers has resulted in a robust selection of pro-grade compilers that are in an almost constant state of improvement.
An open source C compiler differs from commercially available software in that it is created and maintained by a development community that operates for free. Almost anyone in the community can attempt to make recommendations for improvements. Additionally, the source code for the compiler is made freely available to anyone who wishes to create a variant compiler or who wishes to study the code.
One of the characteristics of an open source C compiler is that members of the development community often have different technical backgrounds. Many people use many operating systems at the same time. This diversity helps keep developed C compilers up-to-date so that performance across all platforms is consistent. Unlike non-open source compilers which often target a specific operating system, open source C compilers are designed from the ground up to target a variety of systems.
Another aspect of an open source C compiler is that the community is often very large. In addition to those who are actually writing the compiler code, there are also testers and end users who submit bug reports and enhancement requests. This constant activity allows you to improve a single compiler and add a variety of features at the same time.
However, not all open source projects are completed. There are projects that have seen a strong start and acceptance in the programming community, only to be abandoned and never completed. Sometimes a problem also arises where the actual development of the program outweighs the documentation and testing efforts. This is sometimes the result of a development community that has become too large to manage effectively.
A strong rationale involved in developing an open source C compiler is that it is very often used as a platform for writing other open source software. Thus, the open source community as a whole has a strong interest in seeing a stable compiler for individual use. While the compilers themselves may have different features and abilities, they generally conform to the C language standards that have been released.
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