1.2.2 Apps Generation

Question 1

Define utility software

Answer 1

System software with a specific purpose usually related to maintenance, which ensure consistent and high performance.

Question 2

Give examples of utility software.

Answer 2

Compression
Disk defragmentation
Antivirus
Backup

Question 3

Explain the need for disk defragmentation.

Answer 3

As hard disk fills, read/write slows down. Files become fragmented as they are stored in different parts of memory.

Defrag rearranges the contents so they can be accessed faster, improving performance.

Question 4

Define open source software

Answer 4

Does not require a license to use

Source code can be viewed, modified and redistributed

Question 5

Define closed source software.

Answer 5

Requires the user to hold an appropriate license to use it. Users cannot access the source code as the company owns the copyright license.

Question 6

Advantages of open source.

Answer 6

Can be modified and improved by anyone.

Technical support from online community

Can be modified and sold on.

Question 7

Advantages of closed source.

Answer 7

Thorough, regular and well tested updates.

Company owning software provides expert support and user manuals.

High levels of security as developed professionally.

Question 8

Disadvantages of open source.

Answer 8

Support available online may be insufficient or incorrect. No user manuals

Lower security as may not be developed in a controlled environment.

Question 9

Disadvantages of closed source.

Answer 9

License restricts how many people can use the software at once

Users cannot modify and improve software themselves

Question 10

What should a user consider when deciding between open and closed source?

Answer 10

Costs (implementation, maintenance, training of staff, license)
Functionality (features available, ease of use)

Question 11

What is a translator?

Answer 11

Program that converts high-level source code into low-level object code.

Question 12

What are the three types of translator?

Answer 12

Compiler, interpreter, assembler.

Question 13

What is a compiler?

Answer 13

Program that translates high level code into machine code all at once, after carrying out a number of checks and reporting back any errors.

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of a compiler?

Answer 14

Takes much longer to translate the code than a interpreter or assembler.

If changes need to be made, the whole program must be recompiled.

Compiled code is specific to a particular processor type and operating system

Question 15

What is good about a compiler?

Answer 15

Code can be run without a translator being present.

Question 16

What is an interpreter?

Answer 16

Program that translates and executes code line-by-line. They stop and produce an error if a line contains an error.

Question 17

Why is running interpreted code slower than running compiled code?

Answer 17

Code must be translated each time it has been executed.

Question 18

What is useful about the line-by-line execution of interpreters?

Answer 18

It can be used for testing sections of code and pinpointing errors, as time is not wasted compiling the entire program before it has been fully debugged.

Question 19

What does interpreted code require to run on different devices?

Answer 19

An interpreter.

Question 20

Why is interpreted code more portable?

Answer 20

It can be executed on a range of platforms as long as the right interpreter is available.

Question 21

Why is assembly code considered a low level language?

Answer 21

It is the next level up from machine code.

Question 22

Why is assembly code platform specific?

Answer 22

The instructions used are dependent on the instruction set of the processor.

Question 23

What do assemblers do?

Answer 23

They translate assembly code into machine code.

Question 24

What is each line of assembly code roughly equal to?

Answer 24

Almost one line of machine code.