compiler vs linker

[4ET0pfjN]

Hi,

not to get into too much nitty gritty details, but just want to confirm:

compiler takes source code and turns it into object code but still cannot be run even though it's machine language/cod, and then the object code (object files if a bunch of these) and a linker program converts to executable to run your program.

But in everyday day use, when we say: "My program doesn't compile", are we generalizing that it is performing these two steps?

[zb0S216C]

If a program doesn't compile, it means that the compiler saw something it didn't like. So when people say* their program doesn't compile, it means their program was not fully compiled, so the linker never got the chance to kick-in.

mx760 wrote:

"But in everyday day use, when we say: "My program doesn't compile", are we generalizing that it is performing these two steps?"

Yes, and no. I've seen people say their program doesn't compile, but it was in fact a linker error.

*I mean, moan their bag off.

_Wazzak