Room 01 · 18 min
From code to machine
Follow a program from source text to executed instructions.
01Understand
The mental model
A language describes intent. A toolchain transforms that intent into a representation the runtime can process; compiled and interpreted describe stages, not two airtight language families.
Precise anchors
- Source code
- Text written and maintained by people.
- Compilation
- Transformation of a program into another representation.
- Interpretation
- Execution controlled by an environment that reads a program representation.
- Runtime
- Environment and services available during execution.
02Produce
Optional: explain in your own words
Use your own words and connect ideas through cause or consequence.
Observable rubric
- Both chains start from a source file.
- Each arrow names a transformation or environment.
- The final stage is actually executable.
Your production is saved as a notebook entry. It is not automatically graded; compare it with the criteria and the example.
Optional: record a decision
Compare with a strong example
app.js → browser engine parsing → internal bytecode → JIT optimization → processor instructions main.c → clang → object file → linker → native executable → processor
03Verify
These checks verify your choices. Written explanations and projects still need a review or an execution test.