06-09-2017, 02:56 PM
Programming involves creating files called source code files. Most programming involves two important additional types of files:
• Executable files
An executable file contains all program data and instructions and associated information necessary to produce a memory image to run a program.
• Object files
For a program that is produced by assembling or compiling multiple source files, each assembly or compilation of a source code file produces an object code file that contains portions of the executable file produced from that source file. In addition, an object file contains the information needed to connect the object files together.
The formats for these file types and the memory image are defined by an operating system. An operating system also provides support software called loaders and linkers to handle these types of files. In modern operating systems this software runs partly dynamically; that is, while the code is being executed.
There are some executable files, not considered here, whose formats are not defined by the operating system. These files are handled by interpreters for languages like Java, Perl and Ruby.
• Executable files
An executable file contains all program data and instructions and associated information necessary to produce a memory image to run a program.
• Object files
For a program that is produced by assembling or compiling multiple source files, each assembly or compilation of a source code file produces an object code file that contains portions of the executable file produced from that source file. In addition, an object file contains the information needed to connect the object files together.
The formats for these file types and the memory image are defined by an operating system. An operating system also provides support software called loaders and linkers to handle these types of files. In modern operating systems this software runs partly dynamically; that is, while the code is being executed.
There are some executable files, not considered here, whose formats are not defined by the operating system. These files are handled by interpreters for languages like Java, Perl and Ruby.