1.7: System Software - YK Flashcards
What is systems software?
The software providing an interface between software and hardware to control the hardware
What is the function of an operating system?
Controlling user interface: UI is the part of OS that user sees, allowing user to enter commands and see results.
Memory management: lets memory be shared so more than one process can be stored in RAM at once, making most modern OSs multi-tasking (can run lots of programs at once), also controls virtual memory
Peripheral management: using device drivers to link hardware of the peripheral (device plugged into computer) to the software of the OS
User management: allows different users to have different logins, possibly at different access levels
File management: allows files to be organised into folders, can include compression software and utilities for cleaning up old files
What is utility software?
Software that fixes problems on your computer or maintains its good working order
What are some examples of utility software?
Encryption: scrambles data so it can’t be read without encryption key (used to protect personal info sent over internet)
Defragmentation: when data is written onto a hard disk, files can be scattered so the drive is fragmented (has gaps of storage that can’t be used), defragmenter puts related files together, speeding up the hard disk (related files are closer), and freeing up space
Data compression: makes a file smaller so it takes up less space and can be transferred faster, can be lossy or lossless
Backup: copies files and documents to store somewhere else (so data isn’t lost if drive fails), full backup copies all the data (slow), incremental backup only copies files which have been changed since the last backup (quicker but harder to restore files with)
What are the types of UI?
Command Line Interface (CLI) where user types commands (very fast + powerful but requires expertise)
Graphical User Interface (GUI) where commands are entered using a mouse/touchscreen and clickable icons (slower + less powerful than CLI but suitable to all abilities)
