Editing Interpreter (computing) (section)

=== Distribution ===
A [[compiler]] converts source code into binary instruction for a specific processor's architecture, thus making it less [[software portability|portable]]. This conversion is made just once, on the developer's environment, and after that the same binary can be distributed to the user's machines where it can be executed without further translation. A [[cross compiler]] can generate binary code for the user machine even if it has a different processor than the machine where the code is compiled.

An interpreted program can be distributed as source code. It needs to be translated in each final machine, which takes more time but makes the program distribution independent of the machine's architecture. However, the portability of interpreted source code is dependent on the target machine actually having a suitable interpreter. If the interpreter needs to be supplied along with the source, the overall installation process is more complex than delivery of a monolithic executable, since the interpreter itself is part of what needs to be installed.

The fact that interpreted code can easily be read and copied by humans can be of concern from the point of view of [[copyright]]. However, various systems of [[encryption]] and [[obfuscation]] exist. Delivery of intermediate code, such as bytecode, has a similar effect to obfuscation, but bytecode could be decoded with a [[decompiler]] or [[disassembler]].{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}