1.2.2 Applications Generation

Question 1

Describe and give examples of applications software

Answer 1

Performs generic tasks for the user.

Examples:
- Database (DBMS)
- Word processor
- Spreadsheet
- Graphics editor
- Desktop Publisher (DTP)

Question 2

Describe and give examples of utility software

Answer 2

A program with one specific purpose

A piece of system software used for the maintenance of the system

Examples:
- Disk Defragmenter
- Compression Utility
- Anti-Virus/Malware
- Device driver
- Firewall

Question 3

Describe open-source software

Answer 3

Source code is freely available for others to amend / recompile

Can be built on to tailor the program to specific needs without starting from scratch

Code open for bugs to be spotted and fixed.

Has the benefit of a community potentially improving the system

Question 4

Describe closed-source software (propriety)

Answer 4

The source code is not made available

Distributed in binary form

There is no permission to amend the program code, so cannot be ‘tweaked’

Users are sold a license to use it (with conditions).

Question 5

Describe machine code

Answer 5

The output of a translator

Uses binary notation (0101010101000011)

Dependent on architecture

Harder to program

Question 6

Describe high-level languages

Answer 6

Not architecture specific

Can be recompiled for different architectures.

Close to English

Question 7

Describe assembly language

Answer 7

Uses mnemonics to represent machine code instructions/opcodes

Consists of simple instructions

Specific to the instruction set of the given processor

Question 8

What is a translator?

Answer 8

Software that converts code from high-level, or assembly, to machine code

Question 9

What are the 3 types of translators?

Answer 9

Interpreter

Compiler

Assembler

Question 10

Describe an interpreter and give an example of a language that would use one.

Answer 10

Translates source code every time the program is run

The user needs access to the source code to run the program

Will run on any machine

The slowest option for translators

Translates code line by line

Example: JavaScript

Question 11

Describe a compiler and give an example of a language that would use one.

Answer 11

Machine dependent - different compilers are needed for each type of machine

Creates an executable program (.exe)

Users do not see the source code

Will run quicker than the other options.

Translates all the high-level code at once

Example: C#

Question 12

Describe an assembler and give an example of a language that would use one.

Answer 12

Used to convert assembly language into machine code

Replaces mnemonic opcodes with machine codes

Replaces symbolic addresses with numeric addresses

Creates one line of object code for each line of source code.

Example Assembly Language