A method for generating program code for translating high level code into instructions for one of a plurality of target processors comprises first determining a desired program code characteristic corresponding to a target processor. Then, selecting one or more predefined program code modules from a plurality of available program code modules in accordance with said desired program code characteristic, and generating program code for translating high level code into instructions for said target processor from said selected one or more predefined program code modules. Preferably, the method comprises forming agglomerated program code from a plurality of program code modules in accordance with said desired program code characteristic.