Source code is the basic component of a software program. Only trained individuals can read and understand. Programmers type statements in programming languages in Notepad. Then, they save them in the form of text files. We then say that these text files contain the source code.
Source Code and Object Code
Source code comprises statements made in programming languages. With the help of visual programming tools or text editors and saved in files.
Object code is an output or a compiled file. It is obtained when a programmer uses a C compiler to compile the source code.
The object code comprises sequences of machine-readable instructions. The instructions need to be processed by the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. App software and operating systems are, thus, in the form of object code.
Source code refers to as the “before” version of compiled computer programs. While object code refers to the “after” version of the same.
In the case of script languages like JavaScript, code exists in only one form. Either there is no object code and source code.
How Source Code Originated
Tracing the origins of source code is difficult. Programmers of the early forties wrote the first software in binary code. One may consider these early programs as the first examples of source code.
Computer engineer Tom Kilburn wrote one of the first examples of source code in 1948. He saved it on his computer in the digital format. The purpose of this program was to solve a mathematical problem.
In the fifties and the sixties, some companies wrote software programs. But the companies provided their source code free of cost. As software companies continued to evolve, the demand for source code increased. Source code used to be published in popular computing magazines. This was before the emergence of the Internet. Those interested had to retype this code if they wanted to use it.
Later, programmers started saving source code in floppy disks and sharing it with one another. When the Internet arrived, source code became easier to access.
Open Source Code vs. Proprietary Source Code
Two types of source code are available—open-source code and proprietary source code. Check the licensing agreement to find out more about the nature of the source code.
Proprietary Source Code – The source code of complex software programs is proprietary. Like that of Microsoft. When you buy the source code from Microsoft, you can access only the compiled executable files. It comes along with their associated library files.
Proprietary software companies like Microsoft don’t reveal their source code to customers. They do this to safeguard their intellectual property. Also, they don’t want customers to make changes to the source code. Some source code may either destroy the program or make it insecure.
Open Source Code – Apache OpenOffice is an open-source software code. Programmers can download and change it.
The purpose of open-source software is to avail the source code to talented programmers and developers. This way they can work on the code and change it to enhance the program. This makes it more secure and robust or even changes it into something better.
If you are a programmer, you can download and use open-source code bearing public licenses. A good case is the GNU General Public License.
Source Code Structure
The structure of the source code depends on the traditions of the language written in. As most programming languages relate to one another. The following elements are common to source codes written in all languages.
Commands – All software programs need instructions that establish their purpose, goal, or intent. These commands either display text messages or trigger calculations.
Comparisons – Most software programs comprise building blocks of queries. This comes on the basis principles of propositional logic. Entering a particular value, thus, triggers only one solution and not any other.
Variables – These are information-packed vacancies. They appear throughout the source code under assigned names.
Comments – Programmers using common programming languages comment on lines between the code. This allows programmers who access the code in the future to understand parts of it better.
Loops – This is repeating commands to reach a particular value. In a source code, a query can form the foundation of a loop.
The purpose of creating source code is to solve a problem. But there are different ways of solving the same problem. For example, two programmers may work on finding a solution to the same problem. Using the same programming language, can produce source code that doesn’t look alike.
All good software programs, however, avoid introducing unnecessary text. They are aware that unnecessary text complicates the problem further. Even experienced programmers find it difficult to read complicated code. This is referred to as “spaghetti code” because its structure is complex and tangled.
Website Source Code
The term “source code” is also used to refer to the structure of websites. Though it is a document written in HTML language and not a software program or app. You may also come across statements in programming languages like JavaScript in website source code. Source codes of software programs as well as website source codes are saved as simple text files.
Studying the source code of a website and detecting faulty elements in it can be an interesting exercise. All web browsers allow you to access and study website source code. You can download and save the website source code as an HTML file. You can then open it in Notepad.
You can view the website source code without downloading and saving it. Web browsers allow you to view the source code in two ways, as follows:
View HTML Code – This looks like the downloaded file. When you choose this option, a page displaying the source code opens in a new tab.
View HTML Code with Analysis Tool. This option presents an exciting way to explore the website source code. You will find the analysis tool under “Inspect” (Google Chrome). You can also find Inspect Element” (Firefox and Internet Explorer) in the context menu.
This option displays the source code along with many interesting functions. For example, you can place your mouse pointer over a line of code. Then find out exactly which part of the website the code affects.
Uses of Source Code
Source code has many uses, as follows:
- It forms the foundation of a software program.
- Skilled programmers can access it to customize a program whenever required.
- Developers can change the source code to make the same program work on other platforms.
- ● Shared source code facilitates growth and learning within the developer community. Also leads to the creation of new applications.
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