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NSFC A Level Computer Science > 1.2.2 - Applications Generation > Flashcards

1.2.2 - Applications Generation Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the two types of software.

A

Applications software and systems software.

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2
Q

What is applications software used for?

A

Applications software is designed to be used by the end-user to perform one specific task.

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3
Q

Name two examples of applications software.

A

Desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheets, web browsers, games etc.

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4
Q

What is systems software used for?

A

Systems software is low-level software that is responsible for running the computer system smoothly.

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5
Q

Name two examples of systems software.

A

Library programs, utility programs, operating systems, device drivers etc.

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6
Q

What is utility software?

A

A utility is a key piece of software integral to ensuring the consistently high performance of the operating system.

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7
Q

Name two types of utility software.

A

Compression, disk defragmentation, anti-virus, automatic updating, backup.

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8
Q

What does a compression utility do?

A

Reduces the size of a file so it can be transmitted over the Internet faster.

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9
Q

What does the disk defragmenter utility do?

A

Reorders the contents of the hard drive so they can be accessed faster.

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10
Q

What does the antivirus utility do?

A

Detects potential threats to the computer, alerts the user and removes the threats.

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11
Q

What does the automatic update utility do?

A

Ensures that the operating system is kept up to date with any updates being automatically installed when the computer is restarted.

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12
Q

What does the backup utility do?

A

Automatically creates routine copies of specific files selected by the user.

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13
Q

What is open-source software?

A

The source code can be used by anyone, without a licence and is distributed with the source code.

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14
Q

What is closed source software?

A

The program requires a license to be legally used. Users cannot access the source code as the company owns the copyright license.

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15
Q

What are the advantages of using open-source software?

A

Can be modified and improved by anyone.

Technical support from an online community.

Can be modified and sold on.

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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of using open-source software?

A

There are no user manuals; support available online may be incorrect or insufficient.

Lower security as it may not have been developed in a controlled environment.

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17
Q

What are the advantages of using closed source software?

A

Thorough, regular and well-tested updates.

The company owning the software provides expert support and user manuals.

High levels of security as developed professionally.

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18
Q

What are the disadvantages of using closed source software?

A

The license restricts how many people can use the software at once.

Users cannot modify and improve the software themselves.

19
Q

What is a translator?

A

A program that converts high-level source code into low-level object code.

20
Q

What are the three types of translator?

A

Compiler

Interpreter

Assembler

21
Q

What is the main feature of an interpreter?

A

They translate and execute code line by line.

22
Q

What is the main feature of a compiler?

A

Compilers translate high-level code into machine code all at once.

23
Q

What is the purpose of an assembler?

A

To translate assembly code into machine code.

24
Q

What happens if a compiler encounters an error?

A

The compilation process still occurs and all errors are displayed once finished.

25
Q

What happens if an interpreter encounters an error?

A

The translation is stopped as soon as an error is found.

26
Q

What are the advantages of using a compiler?

A

Once the compilation process is completed, execution is faster.

It does not require a translator to be present.

27
Q

What are the advantages of using an interpreter?

A

It appears faster and starts executing instantly.

Can be run on a wide range of platforms.

28
Q

What are the disadvantages of using a compiler?

A

If changes are made, the whole program has to be recompiled - this is time-consuming.

It can only be executed on certain devices.

29
Q

What are the disadvantages of using an interpreter?

A

It is much slower to execute than a compiler.

30
Q

What is the ratio of assembly instructions to machine code lines?

A

One-to-one.

31
Q

What are the four stages of compilation?

A

Lexical analysis, syntax analysis, code generation and code optimisation.

32
Q

What happens during lexical analysis?

A

Whitespace and comments are removed.

Keywords and identifiers are replaced with tokens.

33
Q

What happens during syntax analysis?

A

Tokens are checked to ensure they follow the rules of the programming language.

Semantic analysis also occurs which flags up any logic errors.

34
Q

What happens during code generation?

A

Machine code is produced from the tokens.

35
Q

What happens during code optimisation?

A

Makes the machine code more efficient by removing redundant parts of code and replacing inefficient sections with more efficient sections.

36
Q

What is the risk of code optimisation?

A

If the optimisation algorithm is too powerful, the code may not behave as intended.

37
Q

What is a library?

A

Ready to use, pre-compiled programs that can be incorporated within other programs.

38
Q

What is a linker?

A

A piece of software that is responsible for linking external modules and libraries included within the code.

39
Q

How does a static linker work?

A

The modules and libraries are added directly to the main file.

40
Q

How does a dynamic linker work?

A

Addresses of the modules and library are included so they can be loaded from an external file.

41
Q

What is the advantage of using a dynamic linker?

A

The file remains small.

42
Q

What is a loader?

A

A piece of software that retrieves the library or subroutine from the given memory location.

43
Q

What are the advantages of using a library?

A

They are error-free.

They save programmers from having to ‘reinvent the wheel’.

NSFC A Level Computer Science (26 decks)

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