The basics of compilation

Compilation can be roughly described as a process of translating instructions written in a high-level programming language into low-level machine code. This allows us to create our applications using abstract concepts such as classes and objects and paring us the tedious intricacies of processor-specific assembly languages. We don't need to work directly with CPU registers, think about short or long jumps, or manage stack frames. Compiled languages are more expressive, readable, and secure, and they encourage the creation of maintainable code, all while delivering as much performance as possible.

In C++, we use static compilation - an entire program must be translated into native code before it can be executed. This is a different approach compared to languages such as Java or Python, which interpret and compile the program on the fly each time a user runs it. Each method has its own unique advantages. C++ aims to offer a multitude of high-level tools, while...