If you are looking to develop smart contracts using the Ethereum platform, you will need a solidity compiler. There are many available, and this guide will help you choose the best one for your needs.
First, it is important to understand what a compiler does. A compiler takes code written in a programming language and turns it into executable instructions that the computer can understand. In the case of Solidity, this means translating lines of code into a form that the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) can execute.
Second, there are two main types of compilers: native compilers and interpreted compilers. Native compilers are designed for a specific platform, like Ethereum, while interpreted compilers run on any platform that has an interpreter available.