Date:         Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:50:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Jack Hamilton <jfh@STANFORDALUMNI.ORG>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jack Hamilton <jfh@STANFORDALUMNI.ORG>
Subject:      Re: compile or interpret
Comments: To: madhu g <c2madhu@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <1176921063.565932.323730@n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

Parts are compiled, parts are interpreted.  I would say that in general
the macro language is interpreted, and in general the data step and
procs are compiled.

I don't know whether compiled macros are really compiled, or just a
different form of interpreted.

It is claimed that data steps are compiled into machine code, but I
don't think there's a way to tell for sure, and I don't see why it would
make any practical difference.

PROCs are compiled, but some might have an interpreted aspect.  I think
(though I'm not sure) that PROCS which use data-steppish code (like PROC
REPORT) compile the code, but I'm not certain of that.

In fact, I can't think of any circumstances under which knowing which
parts of SAS are compiled and which are interpreted would change how you
implement a solution.  You'd have to do timing tests to decide whether
one method is better than another, and many factors besides "interpreted
vs compiled" influence speed of execution.

Why do you think it is important to know this?


--
Jack Hamilton
Sacramento, California
jfh@alumni.stanford.org

----- Original message -----
From: "madhu g" <c2madhu@GMAIL.COM>
To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:31:03 -0700
Subject: [SAS-L] compile or interpret

Hi every one

iam in a learning stage can any one of you can resolve my doubt


Does SAS "compile" or "INTERPRET" it ?

Thanks in advance.
Madhu Kiran