Software

Question 1

Describe the difference between system software and application software

Answer 1

• System software provides the services that the computer requires, including operating system and utility software
• Application software provides the services that the user requires

Question 2

example of system software

Answer 2

operating system, printer driver, encryption software

Question 3

example of application software

Answer 3

word processor, spreadsheet

Question 4

Describe the role and basic functions of an operating system

Answer 4

– managing files
– handling interrupts
– providing an interface
– managing peripherals and drivers
– managing memory
– managing multitasking
– providing a platform for running applications
– providing system security
– managing user accounts

Question 5

how hardware, firmware and an operating system are required to run applications software

Answer 5

-When the computer is first switched on, the firmware is executed.
-This instructs the hardware how to access the attached storage devices.
- The operating system can then be started, running after the firmware.
- Once the operating system has loaded and is running, application software can be loaded and run

Question 6

how an interrupt is generated

Answer 6

Hardware interrupts include pressing a key on the keyboard and moving the mouse

Software interrupts include division by zero and two processes trying to access the same memory location

Question 7

types of interrupt

Answer 7

hardware and software

Question 8

what is an interrupt?

Answer 8

signal sent to the operating system.

OS will then suspend its current task and execute an interrupt service routine for the device or application that sent the interrupt. When the interrupt has been serviced, the OS will continue with the task it was performing before the interrupt occurred

Question 9

how it is handled using an interrupt service routine

Answer 9

current task in the OS is suspended an the signal is dealt with, this might mean shutting down a program of moving the mouse cursor somewhere

Question 10

high-level language

Answer 10

(python and java) High-level languages have a higher level of abstraction, which means they deal with general algorithmic concepts rather than specific details of the underlying computer hardware.

Question 11

low-level language

Answer 11

(C++ and assembly language) Low-level languages have a much lower level of abstraction, meaning they deal less with general concepts and more with specific details

Question 12

adv of high

Answer 12

• similar to human
• debugging is easier and faster
• No knowledge of underlying hardware required.
• cross platform

Question 13

disadv of high

Answer 13

slow execution

Question 14

adv of low

Answer 14

fast execution

Question 15

disadv of low

Answer 15

• hard to read so development is slower
• technical knowledge is required
• machine dependent: tied to specific architecture

Question 16

assembly language is a form of low-level language that uses

Answer 16

mnemonics

Question 17

what is needed to translate an assembly language program into machine code

Answer 17

assembler

Question 18

operation of a compiler

Answer 18

• translates the whole code at once before executing it
• producing an executable file

Question 19

error report of compiler

Answer 19

A compiler provides an error report for the whole code if errors are detected

Question 20

operation of interpreter

Answer 20

An interpreter translates and executes the code line-by-line

Question 21

error report of interpreter

Answer 21

An interpreter stops execution when an error is found

Question 22

adv of compiler

Answer 22

• The executable file produced by the compiler will execute quicker than interpreted code.
• An executable file (object code) is produced which can be executed without the compiler or other additional software.

Question 23

disadv of compiler

Answer 23

• The compilation process can take time, which slows down testing.
• The executable file created by the compiler (object code) is not cross-platform.
• Code must be free of syntax errors before compilation can succeed.

Question 24

adv of interpreter

Answer 24

• Code can be tested even if it contains errors, up to the point of the error. This aids debugging.
• The edit–test process is faster as there is no need to wait for the compilation process. This can speed up debugging.

Question 25

disadv of interpreter

Answer 25

• Interpretation slows down the execution of code.
• Interpreter software is required every time the code is executed.

Question 26

What is IDE? (integrated development environment)

Answer 26

software application specifically designed to help programmers create software

Question 27

common functions IDEs provide

Answer 27

– code editors
– run-time environment
– translators
– error diagnostics
– auto-completion
– auto-correction
– prettyprint