In programming, what is the term for an application that processes code in standard text files into executable applications?

The correct answer is a compiler. A compiler is a specialized program that translates source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code or intermediate code that can be executed by a computer's processor. This process involves reading the entire code, analyzing its syntax and semantics, and generating an executable file, which allows the program to run independently of the original source text.

Compilers play a crucial role in software development, as they optimize the code during the compilation process, making it more efficient for execution. They also provide diagnostics for errors found during code analysis, presenting these issues to the programmer.

In contrast, interpreters translate code line by line at runtime without producing a separate executable file, loaders are responsible for loading executables into memory for execution, and debuggers help identify and fix programming errors in existing code. Each of these tools serves a distinct purpose within the software development process, but it is the compiler that specifically converts standard text files of code into complete executable applications.