ICT chapter 4 Flashcards
What is software?
a series of instructions written in a programming language that performs a function
What are two types of system software?
operating system (OS) and utility programs
What are 4 examples of generic names of application software?
Word Processor
Spreadsheet
Database
Web Browser
What is firmware?
instructions that are stored in the ROM and are loaded when the computer starts
What is the bootstrap?
the first commands loaded when a computer starts it checks hardware and loads the firmware
what is the interface?
the method in which the user communicates with the computer
What are the three different types of interface?
Graphical user interface
Command line interface
natural language interface
What is the Graphical User interface?
a type of operating system that includes windows, icons, menus and pointers
What is the command line interface?
a type of operating system where the user types commands
What is the natural language interface?
a type of operating system that allows the user to type or speak commands
What is system software?
a type of software that manages the hardware and software of the computer
What is the operating system?
a program that manages the computer, allows the computer to communicate with the user and allows software to be run
What are utility programs?
system software that performs housekeeping activities
What is application software?
a software which allows the user to perform a useful task
What does the application software run on?
It runs on the operating system
What does the operating system run on?
it runs on the firmware
What is the firmware loaded by?
The bootstrap
What is an interrupt?
a signal sent to a processor to tell it that its attention is needed
What actions would cause interrupts to appear in the software?
Division by 0
two processes attempting to access the same memory location
output required
What actions would cause interrupts to appear in the Hardware?
data input on a keyboard
error from hardware e.g. printer run out of paper
new hard drive device connected
What is the interrupt handler?
a program that organizes interrupts into a order based on priorities
What is the Interrupt service routine?
a program that receives an interrupt and performs a required action
What are the 6 differences between High-level and Low-level language?
High level is easier for users to understand, read and write while low level is difficult to understand
High level is also easier to debug code while low level is harder
High level is portable and machine dependent while low level is not portable and also machine dependent
High level must be converted into low level language before it can be run , for low level such as machine code it does not need to be converted but even if it needs to be like assembly language its still faster than high level
One high level statement can represent many low level instructions
High level cant manipulate hardware while low level can
What is machine code?
binary code
What is assembly language?
code written in mnemonics that can directly manipulate the hardware
What is a translator?
a type of software that converts code written in one programming language to another. usually high level to low level language.
What are the three main types of translators?
assembler
interpreter
compiler
What are the main differences between a interpreter and a compiler?
Interpreter translate one line at a time the executes it while compiler translates all the code into machine code before executing
Interpreter reports a syntax error as soon as it is found while the compiler reports all the errors at the same time
Interpreter doesn’t produce an executable file while compiler does
You can test parts of the program without needing to translate all of it
When is compiler mainly used?
When the program has been finished and is ready for testing
What is The integrated development environment
a piece of software that allows the user to write, test and run program code
What is Auto-completion?
feature of a editor which gives the user options when they start typing a command
What is Auto-correction?
feature of a editor which identifies spelling errors and changes them
What is Prettyprint?
a feature of a editor that changes the couler of text
What is an editor?
it is a feature of the IDE that allows the user to enter and amend program code
What is the run-time environment?
it is a feature of the IDE that allows a program to be run and lets the user interact with is
