Interpreter: An interpreter is a computer program that directly executes code written in a high-level programming language, without requiring it to be compiled into machine language first. Interpreters are often used for scripting languages like Python, Ruby, and JavaScript, where they provide a more interactive and dynamic development experience compared to compiled languages like C++ or Rust.

How to use it in a sentence

• As the startup's lead developer, I prefer using an interpreter for quick prototyping and iterating on new features, rather than waiting for lengthy compilation times every time I make a change.

• The junior developer was confused when his code changes didn't seem to take effect, until his senior colleague reminded him that he needed to restart the interpreter for the new version of the script to be loaded.

If you actually want to learn more...

• The article A Python Interpreter Written in Python dives into the details of how interpreters work under the hood, by walking through the implementation of a simple Python interpreter in Python itself.

• For a higher-level overview of the differences between interpreters and compilers, check out Compiled versus Interpreted Languages, which explains the pros and cons of each approach.

• If you're curious about the performance implications of using an interpreter, Quantifying the Performance of Garbage Collection vs. Explicit Memory Management presents a rigorous analysis comparing interpreted languages with garbage collection to languages with manual memory management.

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