Changes

| accessdate = 2012-04-02}}</ref>

| accessdate = 2012-04-02}}</ref>

During translation compilers can usually detect all errors due to lexical or syntactical mistakes (spelling and grammar); they may also be able to detect a few simple semantic errors (meaning). Even when a compiler does detect and report an error, all it can do is report what the error is and where it was detected; unfortunately the point of detection can be in some cases be many lines away from the actual source of the error; also it may be difficult to explain the error in terms that the programmer can understand.

During translation compilers can usually detect all errors due to lexical or syntactical mistakes (spelling and grammar); they may also be able to detect a few simple semantic errors (meaning). Even when a compiler does detect and report an error, all it can do is report what the error is and where it was detected; unfortunately the point of detection can be in some cases be many lines away from the actual source of the error; also it may occasionally be difficult to explain the error in terms that the programmer can understand.

A semantic/coding error such as using a plus sign '+' instead of a minus sign '-' is almost impossible for any automated system to detect - thorough human checking of both code and calculated results would be needed in this situation.

A semantic/coding error such as using a plus sign '+' instead of a minus sign '-' is almost impossible for any automated system to detect - thorough human checking of both code and calculated results would be needed in this situation.