One, provided by David Cowling, a compiler of local by-election results, runs to the end of September.

ECONOMIST: By-election boulders

This program is then fed into a second piece of software called a compiler, which translates it into a sequence of machine instructions for a specific kind of microprocessor, such as Intel's x86 family, which can then run the original program.

ECONOMIST: Transmetamorphosis

Microsoft had written a Nvidia compiler into Visual Studio and the Microsoft operating system has proven popular for GPU developers.

FORBES: Supercomputing and High Performance See Growing GPU Adoption

Performance-wise, the winner is a pre-release version of Tower Technology's TowerJ compiler, which generates a native executable from pure Java code that runs almost 25 percent faster than the fastest Java interpreter, even when the interpreter has a just-in-time compiler.

CNN: New benchmark results show Java ready for prime time on servers

Wood Mackenzie, a respected global compiler of oil and gas data, estimates the Bakken reserves are more like 9 billion bbl.

FORBES: Focus

The researchers have already designed the DNA sequences using software from a company called Genome Compiler, which allows people to easily design genetic sequences.

BBC: Glowing tobacco plant

The compiler's contributions apart, the selection is a mixed bag.

ECONOMIST: Michael Lewis

Dr. Yann Golanski, a researcher on the formation of stars, and Stephen Blair-Chappell from Intel Compiler Labs, offer suggestions for improving application performance through parallel programming.

FORBES: Achieving Parallel -- Intel Offers Tips For Higher Performance