Software (paper 1)

Question 1

what are the two types of software

Answer 1

• system software
• application software

Question 2

what is system software further categorised into

Answer 2

• operating systems
• utlility software

Question 3

what is application software

Answer 3

software that provides services that the user requires (apps on smartphones)

Question 4

give examples of application software

Answer 4

• word processors
• spreadsheets
• social media apps

Question 5

what is system software

Answer 5

software that provides services that the computer requires, enabling the computer to work

Question 6

what are operating systems responsible for

Answer 6

important fuctions - a file is written to a hard dirve or program loading into the RAM

Question 7

what are utility systems responsible for

Answer 7

helping configure and maintain the computer or device

Question 8

give some examples of utility software

Answer 8

• compression tools
• backup software
• disk clean up
• disk defragmentation
• antivirus

Question 9

what is user interface

Answer 9

relating to operating systems and it allows the user to tell the computer what to do and shows the result after processing

Question 10

give examples of user interface

Answer 10

• graphical user interface = windows, icons, menus
• voice activation = siri, amazon alexa

Question 11

what is disk defragmentation

Answer 11

• when files are saved to a magnetic hard disk they are stored in the next availiable space
• this leads to files being split into fragments which take longer to access = more movement
• this software puts each file back into one continguous location

Question 12

what does disk clean-up do

Answer 12

• deletes temporary files
• clearing cached files for web browser
• removes unnecessary program files

Question 13

what is required to run applications software

Answer 13

• hardware = components of computer
• firmware = low-level software to operate correctly
• operating systems = acts as file management

Question 14

describe the role and operation of interrupts

Answer 14

an interrupt is a signal sent to the CPU to get it to temporarily stop the process so it can handle more urgent tasks - time sensitive and improve efficiency

Question 15

what are the types of programming language

Answer 15

• high-level language
• love-level language

Question 16

what is high-level language

Answer 16

• a language tha thas a syntax and similar to english
• it is designer to be understood by humans
• eg. python
• allows programmer to concerntrate on task vs computer architecture
• it must then be complied or interpreted before run

Question 17

what is low-level language

Answer 17

• assembly code - typically used to control hardware components
• heard to read but execute very quickly
• eg. in embedded systems = machine code
• less memory and still equivilant to high-level instructions

Question 18

what is machine code

Answer 18

the binary intructions produced by the complier or interpreter
- each type of processor has its own specific machine code instruction set so it will not work on another type

Question 19

what are the three common translators

Answer 19

• complier
• interpreter
• assembler

Question 20

what is a complier

Answer 20

• translates high-level language in one go to produce object code
• exercutes faster than interpreted program
• does not need to be complied again
• complier can be removed once object code run
• provides error report if any errors
• used in C# and VB

Question 21

what is an interpreter

Answer 21

• translates and executes high-level language one line at a time
• takes more time to execute than complier
• source code interpreted every time it is run
• must be installed to run
• stops excercution if error found
• used in Python and JavaScript

Question 22

what is an assembler

Answer 22

converts assembly code into machine code

Question 23

describe how assembly code isnt machine code but close

Answer 23

assembly code uses mnemonics and an assembler is still needed to make it machine code

Question 24

what does IDE stand for

Answer 24

intergrated development evironment

Question 25

what is an IDE

Answer 25

a software used to enter and edit source code, also compiles programs to machine code and has debugging features

Question 26

what are the useful tools of IDEs to programmers

Answer 26

• error diagnostics
• runtime environment
• translators
• code editors

Question 27

explain what is meant by a runtime environement

Answer 27

the environment that allows the program to be rune, checks for runtime errors and other testing

Question 28

what is meant by a runtime error

Answer 28

• a runtime error is detected when the program is run
• it is not a syntax error but a error on user input
• like division by 0 for example

Question 29

how do IDEs use error detection

Answer 29

• interpreter or complier highlights syntax errors
• runtime errors also flagged

Question 30

what are breakpoints

Answer 30

in IDEs breakpoints can be set to pause a program, enabling the programmer to check the value of variables in the code to find errors

Question 31

how are IDEs code editors

Answer 31

• has auto-completion and auto-correction functions to offer key words or suggest corrections
• keywords are highlighter in different colours = prettyprint

Question 32

what is prettyprint

Answer 32

how kew words in code are often highlighted to make it easier to read and allowing indentation

Question 33

what is firmware

Answer 33

a type of software that is etched onto the ROM at manufacturing stage