8. System software Flashcards
What is a device driver?
Device driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer
What is OS?
OS (Operating System) a software that provides an environment for programs to be run that are of benefit to a user by controlling the hardware and interacting with application software.
What is an application software?
Application software - a type of computer program that performs a specific personal, educational, and business function rather than to help run the system.
What kinds of User-system interface are there? 2 aspects.
- Command-line interface
- Graphical User interface (GUI)
What tasks does Resource management perform? 2 aspects.
- Scheduling of processes
- Resolution of conflicts when two processes require the same resource
Why is Program-hardware interface used?
Programmers write and run their software, which uses computer’s hardware. OS ensures that hardware does what the software wants it to do.
Why is Memory management useful? 3 aspects.
- Memory protection ensures that one program does not try accessing the same memory location as the other.
- Creating virtual memory using paging or segmentation
- Memory optimization ensures that there is no data corruption or memory leaks.
What is Device management? 3 aspects.
- Installation of appropriate device driver software
- Allocation and deallocation of a device
- Keeps track of data relate to specific devices
Why is File management useful? 3 aspects.
- Giving file naming conventions
- Directory structures
- Access mechanisms
Why is Security management useful? 3 aspects
- Provision for recovery when data is lost
- Prevention of intrusion or leakage
- Ensuring data privacy
What is a system utility program?
A utility program can be provided by the operating system or it can be installed separately. It is a program that is not executed as part of the normal running of the operating system. Instead it is a program that the user or the operating system can decide to run when needed.
What kinds of system utilities are there and what do they do?
- Hard disk defragmenter - reorganizes file structures
- Backup software - establishes a schedule for backups and creates a new backup file when there has been a change.
3, File compression - minimizes hard disk storage quantity. - Virus checker - runs regular virus scans and requests arrangement of their deletion if found.
What do IDE’s provide?
Integrated development software provides:
• Syntax highlighting
• Context-sensitive prompts
• Auto-complete
• Error highlighting
• Expanding and collapsing code blocks
• Debugging (helps to investigate program’s breakpoint)
What is a compiler and what does it do, what is an interpreter and what does it do, what is an assembler and what does it do?
A compiler is a software that converts (as a whole page) programs written in a high level language into machine language. An interpreter is a software that translates a high level language program line by line into machine language while an assembler is a software that converts programs written in assembly language (low-level programming language) into machine language.
What is a program library?
The ‘programs’ in a program library are usually subroutines created to carry out particular tasks. A
programmer can use these within their own programs by requiring it. (a subroutine is a sequence of program instructions that performs a specific task, packaged as a unit)
