Comp2- software and programming languages

Question 1

What is software?

Answer 1

consists of sequences of instructions called programs that can be understood and executed by hardware.

Question 2

What is the operating system?

Answer 2

Acts as an interface between the user and the hardware and provides the user with a virtual machine. WHich makes it easier to use, as its hiding the hardware complexity and removes direct hardware interactions.
Provide a software platforms for other programs to run on.

Question 3

What are two types of software?

Answer 3

SYstem software

and Application software.

Question 4

What are 4 types of system software?

Answer 4

operating system
library programs
utility programs
programming language translators.

Question 5

What are the 3 types of application software?

Answer 5

general-purpose application software
special-purpose application software
bespoke application software

Question 6

3 examples of a utilty program?

Answer 6

disk formatter, file compression, and firewall.

Question 7

3 examples of a translator?

Answer 7

Assembler
Interpreter
compiler

Question 8

3 examples of a general purpose app software.

Answer 8

word processor
spreadsheet
database manager

Question 9

3 examples of a special purpose app software.

Answer 9

payroll
(web browser)
tax calculator.

Question 10

2 examples of bespoke app software?

Answer 10

air traffic control

London congestion.

Question 11

What is a bespoke application software

Answer 11

Written for one customers specific needs- cant buy it from shops.

Question 12

What are library programs

Answer 12

a collection of compiled routines for use in other programs.

Question 13

What are utility programs?

Answer 13

programs that preform a very specific task related to working with computers.

Question 14

What is an assembler?

Answer 14

translates assembly language into machine code.

Question 15

What is a compiler?

Answer 15

translates higher level language into object code (machine code)
Does it all the translating at once before the program is run.
Compiled code in a .exe

Question 16

What is an interpreter?

Answer 16

Translates a high level language to machine code one line at a time , while the program is being run. interpreted code isn’t stored.

Question 17

What us general purpose software?

Answer 17

software that can be sued for many different tasks.

Question 18

What is special purpose software?

Answer 18

software designed to support one specific task.

Question 19

Why use a interpreter over a compiler?

Answer 19

They are easier to write.
Less resource intensive.
Used in javascipt (in browers) to avoid the platform specficness of storing as .exe.
May be used to test sections during program development to avoid translating everything.

Question 20

Why use a compiler over a interpreter?

Answer 20

Faster at running
more efficient at running
no IDE or compiler needed to run the program.
the source code is hidden.

Question 21

What is object code?

Answer 21

Is the machine code language of the target machine.

Question 22

What are the four generations of programming language?

Answer 22

1. Machine code.
2. Assembly language
3. Imperative high level languages.
4. Declarative high level language.

Question 23

What is a declarative language?

Answer 23

Programs define goals and rules without specifying the precise flow of control in the algorithm.

Question 24

what is a imperative language?

Answer 24

Programs consist of a list of commands to be executed in sequence. That specify how to solve a problem.

Question 25

Disadvantages of machine code?

Answer 25

very slow and tedious to write
easy to make mistakes when writing
hard to debug
machine specific- every pc has a different instruction set.

Question 26

Features of a assembly language?

Answer 26

has names or mnemonics instead of numbers for the instructions.
has the same instruction set as machine code
machine specific
you can have variable names
and add comments.
translated into machine code with a assembler.
1:1 ratio between mcode and AL

Question 27

Features of a high-level language?

Answer 27

easier to read,write,debug.
needs translating(less efficient)
a single high level statement corresponds to 1 or more machine code statements.
not machine specfic

Question 28

Compiler downsides?

Answer 28

Harder to write a compiler.
OS specific due to use .exe
debugging is harder
more likely to crash
needs more memory
takes longer to test code.

Question 29

Interpreter downsides?

Answer 29

Slower at running
less efficient
needs the IDE/interpreter to run
source code is avalable

Question 30

What is bytecode?

Answer 30

In multi step translations for java.
its complieled into bytecode which is platform independent.
then at run-time interpreted to machine code.
This means the same exe can run on multiple platforms.

Question 31

declarative lanage example?

Answer 31

.Prolog, SQL.

Question 32

declarative language uses?

Answer 32

AI

Question 33

imperative language example?

Answer 33

Pascal, c

Question 34

WHy is assembly language still written in today?

Answer 34

When fast executing of the program is essential or when they need to preform an operation that isn’t possible in a high level language, such as directly addressing registers.
or if no high level language exists that fits your needs.
If done well it will take up less space then even compiled programs.

Question 35

Why are higher level languages called problem oriented?

Answer 35

they are made o aid problem solving.

Question 36

Why are there so many high level languages ?

Answer 36

because they are problem specific.