Understanding the Compiler Organization

The C++ compiler package consists of a front end, optimizer, code generator, assembler, template pre-linker, and link editor. The CC command invokes each of these components automatically unless you use command-line options to specify otherwise.

Because any of these components may generate an error, and the components perform different tasks, it may be helpful to identify the component that generates an error.

Figure 2-1 The Compilation Process

As shown in the following table, input files to the various compiler components have different file name suffixes. The suffix establishes the kind of compilation that is done. Refer to Table 2-1 for the meanings of the file suffixes.