Книга: Cross Compiler: Compiler, MinGW, Executable, Computing platform, Embedded system, Microcontroller, Operating system, Paravirtualization, Source-to-source ... Server farm, Bootstrapping (compilers)

A cross compiler is a compiler capable of creating executable code for a platform other than the one on which the compiler is run. Cross compiler tools are used to generate executables for embedded system or multiple platforms. It is used to compile for a platform upon which it is not feasible to do the compiling, like microcontrollers that don't support an operating system. It has become more common to use this tool for paravirtualization where a system may have one or more platforms in use. Not targeted by this definition are source to source translators, which are often called by the name of cross compiler.