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computer science > Applications generation > Flashcards

Applications generation Flashcards

software and software development

1
Q

Define applications software (AS)

A

A software that allows a user to perform a task or produce something

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2
Q

What is a word processor (AS)

A

Used for writing letters, reports and other documents

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3
Q

what are spreadsheet packages (AS)

A

These allow a user to model complex situations, and are often used for financial calculations

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4
Q

what is presentation software (AS)

A

Used to make onscreen slide shows to accompany presentations

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5
Q

what is desktop publishing software (AS)

A

Used for documents where the layout is
important, such as newsletters

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6
Q

what are image editors (AS)

A

Used to alter and amend images such as photographs

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7
Q

What are Web browsers

A

Allow a user to browse the World Wide Web

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8
Q

Give some examples of specialist applications and define

A
  • Computer-aided design packages allow engineers to build designs
  • Management information systems allow data to be stored and processed
  • video games provide entertainment
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9
Q

define utility software

A

small programs designed to help with the maintenance of a system.

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10
Q

name three examples of utility software

A
  • Anti-malware
  • Disk defragmentation
  • Backup
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11
Q

What is the purpose of anti-malware

A

Used to detect and remove malware on the system

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12
Q

How does disk defragmentation software help the computer

A

rearranges where data is held on the hard disk drive so that files load quicker

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13
Q

How does backup software operate

A

Used to make copies of data to an alternative device or location, this can be set to occur automatically

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14
Q

Define Source code

A

The program code written by the programmer, usually written in high level language

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15
Q

what is closed-source software

A
  • Software that is only distributed as executable machine code
    most users do not need the program’s machine code
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16
Q

what is machine code

A

Instructions and data are stored in binary, directly readable by the CPU

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17
Q

What is open-source software (OSS)

A
  • Software where the source code is made publically available
  • Users can modify it to their needs
    Grants anyone permission to amend, recompile and distribute
18
Q

Advantages of open-source software

A
  • Free
  • Users can change the source code of OSS and adapt it to their needs
  • Anyone can help find security holes in the program
19
Q

Advantages of closed-source software

A
  • Tends to be more polished than OSS (developed by companies with lots of resources)
  • Can be developed by huge teams of volunteers who do not need to consider the aims of the project
  • People cannot exploit security holes before they are fixed
20
Q

A03 open-source VS. closed-source

A

Open source
- Trust (Client can see exactly what the company is doing)
- Other people can steal
- Different types of open-source software

21
Q

How are instructions represented

A

Machine code - They are binary and are made up of the opcode (the instruction itself) and operand (the data it acts on)

Computers only understand machine code

22
Q

What is assembly code

A

A low-level language that uses single words or mnemonics to represent instructions

The opcode is represented in denary or hexadecimal

23
Q

How is assembly code converted to machine code

A

An assembler is used to convert each line of assembly of code into machine code

24
Q

what is a low-level language

A

These are languages closely
tied to the architecture
of the CPU. They use the
CPU’s instruction set.

  • The lowest-level language is
    machine code, which is
    directly readable by the
    CPU.
25
Q

What is a high-level language

A

These are designed for humans to read easily. They tend to use a combination of English words and mathematical notation

26
Q

How can a computer run code written in high-level languages

A

The program must be converted into machine code using a compiler or an interpreter

27
Q

What is a compiler

A

A program that converts the entire high-level source code into an executable machine code file that is then executed

28
Q

What is an interpreter

A

A program that reads and executes high-level source code line by line

29
Q

Advantages/Disadvantages of a compiler

A

dis
- Can take a while to perform

adv
- Once the executable file is built it can be run immediately

30
Q

Advantages/Disadvantages of an interpreter

A

adv
- Can start running the program straight away
- Useful during the coding and debugging process as the programmer doesn’t have to wait for the entire program to compile

dis
- Run more slowly than it would if it were complied as the interpreter has to translate each line as it is run

31
Q

What are the steps of compilation

A
  • Lexical analysis
  • Syntax analysis
  • Code generation
  • Code optimisation
32
Q

Describe the first stage of compilation (lexical analysis)

A

Identifies the parts that make up the program

  • Comments and whitespace are removed from the program #
  • The remaining code is turned into a series of tokens (each representing a part of the program)
  • A symbol table is created to keep track of variables and subroutines
33
Q

Describe the second stage of compilation (syntax analysis)

A

The syntax is the structure of a language

  • A syntax tree is built from the tokens produced during lexical analysis
  • If any tokens break the rules of the language, syntax errors are generated
34
Q

Describe the third stage of compilation (code generation)

A

The abstract code tree is converted to object code

35
Q

What is object code

A

When code is complied but yet to be run through a linker.

36
Q

Describe the fourth stage of compilation (code optimisation)

A

This tweaks the code so it is run as efficiently as possible.

This might mean optimising for :
- Speed of execution
- Using as little memory as possible

37
Q

What is a library

A

Code that has already been written and usually complied. Other programmers can reuse this code

38
Q

Advantages of libraries

A
  • They can save time(no need to rewrite code)
  • They can cover complex areas (prewrite code that would be too time-consuming to learn how to do yourself)
  • A library coded in one language can be used in other languages
39
Q

What is a linker used for

A

It is used to combine compiled code with that from a library into a single executable file

40
Q

What is the loader used for

A

A loader is part of the operating system and is responsible for loading a program into memory

computer science (19 decks)

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