Chapter 4 - Software Flashcards
Learn the basics of software
Software
Consists of the computer program that governs the operation of the computer.
Computer program
Sequence of instructions for the computer
The two basic types of software
- System software
* Application software
System software
- Set of programs designed to coordinate hardware and various programs
Application software
- Consists of programs that help users solve particular computing problems
RIA
Rich Internet Applications
Sphere of influence
- The scope of problems and opportunities addressed by a particular organization
Types of systems software
- Operating software
- Utility software
- Middleware
Operating software
- Set of computer programs that control the computer hardware and act as an interface with application programs
Rescue disc
Storage device that had some parts of the OS used to start computer
Collection of programs that make up the OS
1) Common hardware functions
2) User interface & input/output management
3) Hardware independence
4) Memory Management
5) Processing Tasks
6) Networking Capability
7) Access to system resources & security
8) File management
Common hardware function
- Applications that perform hardware related tasks
User interface
- Part of the OS that allows you to access and command the computer
Command-based user interface
- Requires text commands to perform basic activities
Graphic-based user interface
- Interface that displays pictures and menus that people use to send commands to the computer
3) Hardware independence
Links application software to OS providing hardware independence for Software developers
API
Application program interface
4) Memory management
- Controls how memory is accessed and maximizes available memory & storage
Virtual memory
- Allocates space on the hard disk to supplement the immediate memory capacity of RAM
5) Processing tasks
- Allocates computer resources to make the best use of each system’s assets
Multiuser
- Allows two or more users to run program
Multiprocessing
- Supports running a program on more than one CPU
Multitasking
- Allows more than one program to run concurrently
Multithreading
- Allows different threads of a single program to run concurrently
realtime
- Responds to input instantly
6) Networking capability
- Allows computers to join together in a network to send and receive data
7) Access to system resources & security
- Provides a high-level of security against unauthorized access
8) file management
-Files are available when needed and they are protected
Embedded system
- A computer system implanted in and dedicated to the control of another device
Utility programs
- Programs that helps to perform maintenance or correct problems with a computer system
Middleware
- Software that allows various systems to communicate & exchange data
Service orientated architecture (SOA)
- Method of developing software that allows users to interact with systems and systems to interact with each other
