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`!Source-code compatibility`! (source-compatible) means that a program can run on `F33f`_`[computers`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Central_processing_unit]`_`f (or `F33f`_`[operating systems`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Operating_system]`_`f), independently of `F33f`_`[binary-code compatibility`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Binary-code_compatibility]`_`f and that the `F33f`_`[source code`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Source_code]`_`f is needed for `F33f`_`[portability`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Software_portability]`_`f.`:cite-ref-baron-higbie-1992-1-0[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-baron-higbie-1992-1]`_`f]

The source code must be `F33f`_`[compiled`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Compiler]`_`f before running, unless the computer used has an `F33f`_`[interpreter`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Interpreter_(computing)]`_`f for the language at hand.`:cite-ref-data-processing-digest-1980-2-0[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-data-processing-digest-1980-2]`_`f] The term is also used for `F33f`_`[assembly language`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Assembly_language]`_`f compatibility, where the source is a `F33f`_`[human-readable`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Human-readable]`_`f form of `F33f`_`[machine code`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Machine_code]`_`f that must be converted into numerical (i.e. executable) machine code by an `F33f`_`[assembler`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Assembly_language]`_`f. This is different from `F33f`_`[binary-code compatibility`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Binary-code_compatibility]`_`f, where no recompilation (or assembly) is needed.`:cite-ref-stern-monti-bachmann-1998-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-stern-monti-bachmann-1998-3]`_`f]

Source compatibility is a major issue in the developing of computer programs. For example, most `F33f`_`[Unix`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Unix]`_`f systems are source-compatible, as long as one uses only standard `F33f`_`[libraries`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Library_(computing)]`_`f. `F33f`_`[Microsoft Windows`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Microsoft_Windows]`_`f systems are source-compatible across one major family (the `F33f`_`[Windows NT`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windows_NT]`_`f family, from `F33f`_`[NT 3.1`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windows_NT_3.1]`_`f through `F33f`_`[Windows 11`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windows_11]`_`f, or the family that includes `F33f`_`[Windows 95`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windows_95]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Windows 98`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windows_98]`_`f, and `F33f`_`[Windows Me`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windows_Me]`_`f), with partial source compatibility between the two families.

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[See also`#see-also]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

-─

>>See also

• `F33f`_`[Backward compatibility`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Backward_compatibility]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[Source upgrade`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Source_upgrade]`_`f

>>References

`:cite-note-baron-higbie-1992-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-baron-higbie-1992-1-0]`_`f `:citerefbaronhigbie1992`aBaron, R.J.; Higbie, L. (1992). `*Computer Architecture`*. Addison-Wesley series in electrical and computer engineering. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. p. 106. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-201-50923-6. Retrieved 9 May 2018.

`:cite-note-data-processing-digest-1980-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-data-processing-digest-1980-2-0]`_`f `*Data Processing Digest`*. Data Processing Digest, Incorporated. 1980. p. 21. Retrieved 9 May 2018.

`:cite-note-stern-monti-bachmann-1998-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-stern-monti-bachmann-1998-3-0]`_`f `:citerefsternmontibachmann1998`aStern, M.; Monti, G.; Bachmann, V. (1998). `*NT Enterprise Network Design`* (in Estonian). Sybex, Network Press. p. 17. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-7821-2156-8. Retrieved 9 May 2018.

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