machine-dependent code

noun

UK /məˈʃiːn dɪˌpɛndənt kəʊd/

US /məˈʃiːn dɪˌpɛndənt koʊd/

Code that only works on one specific type of computer.

The program was written in machine-dependent code, so it wouldn't run on a different computer.

SYNONYMS

machine-specific code platform-specific code non-portable code hardware-dependent code

RELATED WORDS

assembly language machine code compiler portability instruction set

OTHER MEANINGS

2. Software instructions tied to a particular processor architecture and unable to run elsewhere without changes.

Engineers had to rewrite the machine-dependent code before moving the system to new servers.

3. Low-level program text that relies on the exact hardware features of one machine model.

The old game contained machine-dependent code that only worked on that console.

4. Code whose behavior or performance depends on the specific computer it runs on.

Profiling revealed machine-dependent code that ran fast on one laptop but slowly on another.