execute

1. Run a compiled or interpreted program by carrying out the instructions in an executable file. To execute or run a program, the operating system must create a process for the program and then allocate the CPU (and any other resources needed by the program) to this process. The state of the program in execution is often called run time.

See also compile, debug, executable file, interpret, link, operating system, process, resources.

2. A 4GL executable file contains either interpreted p-code or compiled C code. Compiled C programs are executable in and of themselves; they can be run at the command line. Interpreted programs (p-code) require the use of a system program called a runner, the P-code Runner.

See also command line, p-code.