When diving into the world of software development, it’s vital to distinguish between source code and object code.

Both concepts are integral to the software development process. Still, they serve different purposes, and developers use them at varying stages of the development lifecycle.

In this post, we explore the characteristics, use cases, and significance of source code and object code, shedding light on their roles in creating software.

Introducing source code

What is it?

Source code is the human-readable form of a computer programme written in a programming language such as Python, Java, C++, or JavaScript.

It consists of lines of text developers write to instruct the computer on performing specific tasks. They write source code using programming languages designed to be easily understood by humans.

Understanding the role of source code

Source code serves as the foundation of software development. Developers express their ideas, logic, and algorithms through this code to create a functioning programme.

Here are essential points that highlight the significance of source code:

  1. Human readable: As mentioned earlier, source code is human-readable, making it easier for developers to understand, maintain, and collaborate on projects. This quality allows developers to:
    • spot errors,
    • optimise algorithms (computer instructions), and
    • make changes throughout the development process.
  2. Portability: Source code’s portability is one of its notable advantages. Developers can use a single source codebase—a central and unified set of human-readable code to create a software application— to generate programme versions for different platforms, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux.
  3. Version control: Developers use source code management systems like Github to track changes, collaborate with team members, and manage different software versions efficiently.

Meeting object code

What is it?

Object code is not human-readable. It’s the output generated by the compiler after processing the source code.

A compiler is a software tool that converts the code developers write into a form that computers can understand and execute.

Understanding the role of object code

Object code plays a crucial role in the final steps of software development.

Here are its essential characteristics and significance:

  1. Machine-readable: Unlike source code, object code is machine-readable. Computers can directly understand and execute it. Object code is represented in binary format (0s and 1s).
  2. Linking and execution: The object code links with other object code files and libraries to create an executable programme. The linker—a software tool that combines separate pieces of compiled code into a single executable program,e or library—performs this process, resulting in an executable application on the target platform.
  3. Protection of intellectual property: Object code provides a layer of protection for the intellectual property in the software. Since it is not easily readable or understandable by humans, it makes reverse engineering more challenging for unauthorised users.

How source code and object code work together

To understand the relationship between source code and object code, let’s walk through the typical software development process:

  1. Writing the source code: Developers start by writing the source code, expressing their ideas and creating the logic for the software application.
  2. Compilation: Developers then feed the source code into a compiler, translating it into object code specific to the target platform.
  3. Linking: The object code links with other necessary object code files and libraries to create an executable programme.
  4. Execution: The executable programme is now ready to execute on the target platform, performing the tasks defined in the original source code.