Systems software Flashcards
What is the purpose of systems software?
The purpose of systems software is to provide a platform on which the user can run applications and manage the computer system.
Without systems software the computer would be unusable
What are the two types of system software?
Operating system software
Utility software
What are the six functions of an operating system?
To provide a user interface To enable multi-tasking To provide memory management To manage peripherals such as printers To provide user management To provide file management
What is a user interface?
A user interface provides the means by which the user of the computer communicates/ interacts with the computer
What are four types of User Interface?
Types of User Interface include Graphical User Interface (GUI) Natural Language Interface Menu Interface Command Line Interface
what are the 8 features of a graphical use interface (GUI)?
Windows Icons Menus Pointers Easy to use Visual Intuitive Optimised for mouse or touch gesture input
What are the features of a natural language interface?
Answer questions spoken in natural language.
Not always reliable.
What are the features of a menu interface?
Successive menus presented to the user
Single option chosen at each stage.
What are the features of a command line interface?
Text based. Less resource heavy than a GUI. For advanced users. Efficient. More commands than a GUI. Automate processes using scripts.
How does multi-tasking work?
Programs are held by the operating system in a queue.
The program at the front of the queue runs its code on the processor.
After a small amount of time, the program stops running and is moved to the back of the queue.
The next program at the front of the queue then starts running.
The cycle continues with newly loaded programs joining the queue and programs that are closed leaving the queue.
What happens when programs are loaded into memory?
The operating system decides where in memory the program will be stored. Over time memory becomes fragmented (see next slide)and the operating system has to keep track of where the different parts of a program are stored.
When memory becomes full virtual memory will be needed
What is the purpose of a device driver?
Device drivers are small programs used to allow the operating system to control peripheral devices such as printers.
Each peripheral has a device driver. This translates commands from the operating system into hardware specific commands that only that device understands.
The device can also pass data back to the operating system using the device driver.
What is user management?
Providing for different users to log in to a computer. The operating system will retain individual settings for each user.
Different users may have different access rights to files and peripherals.
What is file management
Computers store data in files
A file extension (eg: .jpg .doc, .xls) is used to tell the operating system which program to use to open a file
The operating system presents a folder structure to make ii easy for users to locate files
The operating system also makes it possible for files to be edited, renamed and deleted
As new files are added and other file deleted and edited over time, files will become fragmented
What is utility software?
Utility software is a piece of software which performs one specific useful task (sometimes called housekeeping software)
