Chapter 9 - The nature of applications

Question 1

What are the 2 types of software?

Answer 1

» Applications software
» System Software

Question 2

What is the systems software?

Answer 2

» Software needed to run the computer’s hardware and application programs

Question 3

What are 3 examples of system softwares?

Answer 3

» Operating system
» Utility programs
» Libraries

Question 4

What is a utility software?

Answer 4

» System software designed to optimise and maintain the performance of the computer

Question 5

What are 4 things the utility software does?

Answer 5

» Backing up files
» Restoring corrupted files
» Compressing or decompressing
» Encrypting data

Question 6

What is the purpose of the disk defragmenter?

Answer 6

» Reorganise a magnetic hard disk
» Can restore data into sequential blocks

Question 7

What is the purpose of the automatic updating?

Answer 7

» Mkaes sure software installed on the computer is up-to-date

Question 8

What are the 3 ways application software can be categorised?

Answer 8

» General purpose
» Special purpose
» Custom written(bespoke)

Question 9

What is a general-purpose software?

Answer 9

» Such as a word-processor, spreadsheet
» Can be used for many different purposes
» Such as to draw animations or manipulate photograph

Question 10

What is a special-purpose software?

Answer 10

» Performs a single specific task or set of tasks
» Such as hotel booking systems, browser software

Question 11

What is the difference in price between bespoke and off the shelf software?

Answer 11

» Bespoke is more costly and requires expertise to analyse the documents requirements
» Off the shelf is less expensive since the cost is shared among all the other people buying the package

Question 12

What is the difference in features between bespoke and off the shelf software?

Answer 12

» Off the shelf may contain a lot of unwanted features - or be missing some essential feature
» Bespoke - features can be customised to user requirement and other features can be added as needs arise

Question 13

What is the difference between off the shelf and bespoke software in terms of development of the software?

Answer 13

» Bespoke - may take a long time to develop
» Off the shelf - ready to be installed immediately

Question 14

What is the difference between off the shelf and bespoke software in terms of errors?

Answer 14

» Off the shelf is well documented and well-tested and error free
» Bespoke may contain erros which do not surface immediately

Question 15

What are 4 statements the Open Source initiative says?

Answer 15

» Software is licensed for use, but there is no charge for the licence
» Open Source software must be distributed with the source code so anyone can modify it
» Developers can sell the software they have created
» Must be “open”, meaning it can be distributed or sold in a form that other peopel can read and also edit it

Question 16

What is the difference between Freeware(Free software) and open source software?

Answer 16

» Freeware is also free to use but the user does not get access to the source code

Question 17

What is another name for closed source software?

Answer 17

» Proprietary software

Question 18

Who owns the copyright of the properiatary software?

Answer 18

» The company who wrote the software

Question 19

What are incremental backups?

Answer 19

» Only files since the last backup are saved

Question 20

What are full backups?

Answer 20

» All data is backed up

Question 21

What are 3 advantages of Open source software?

Answer 21

» Usually free
» Encourages collaboration
» Software can be adapted by users to fit their needs

Question 22

What are 3 advantages of Open source software?

Answer 22

» Usually free
» Encourages collaboration
» Software can be adapted by users to fit their needs

Question 23

What are 3 disadvantages of Open source software?

Answer 23

» Potential bugs
» Lower security as it may not be developed in a controlled environment
» Small projects may not get regular updates

Question 24

What are 3 advantages of Properitary software?

Answer 24

» Comes with warranties, documentation and customer support
» Thorough, regular and well tested updates
» High level of security as it is developed professionally

Question 25

What are the 5 criteria that can help you suggest what software is needed?

Answer 25

» Does it provide all the necessary functionality?
» Does it run on the available hardware?
» Is it “off the shelf” or will it have to be bespoke
» How much will it cost?
» Is it well-used, tried and test?

Question 26

What are 2 disadvantages of proprietary software?

Answer 26

» License restircts how many people can use the software at once
» Users cannot modify and improve software themselves

Question 27

What is the definition of open source software?

Answer 27

» Open source code which can be used by anyone without a license and is distributed with the source code

Question 28

What is the definition of closed source?

Answer 28

» Source which requires the user to hold an appropriate license to use it

Question 29

What is the source code?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What is hardware?

Answer 30

» All physics parts of a computer system

Question 31

What is software?

Answer 31

» General term covering all computer programs

Question 32

What are the 2 ways you can backup your files? In terms of frequency?

Answer 32

» Automatic
» Scheduled
» Manual