Re: AS: Compiled or interpreted?
Re: AS: Compiled or interpreted?
- Subject: Re: AS: Compiled or interpreted?
- From: has <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 12:53:07 +0000
ThePPCGod wrote:
>
This is a simple question, but one I've never seen the answer to. Is
>
AppleScript run as compiled (i.e. - machine) code or as interpretted code at
>
runtime when saved as a 'compiled script'? I know the answer seems obvious
>
(compiled script = compiled code), but I'm not so sure that it actually is.
>
Chris ought to know... comments?
Interpreted bytecode. Sort of a halfway house.
Your original AS code is parsed into a simpler, more machine readable form
at compile-time. The bytecode isn't machine instructions (a whole different
kettle of fish), but it executes faster than if the interpreter had to
parse each line of your original AS code every single time it needed it.
As you know, your code is also syntax checked at this point; static
variable scoping and other stuff that makes life easier for the interpreter
is also taken care of. Lots of other work is left till runtime, however,
which is why, for example, you'll find AS compiles much faster than C, but
executes somewhat slower. (i.e. It's a tradeoff.)
HTH
has
http://www.barple.connectfree.co.uk/ -- The Little Page of Beta AppleScripts
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