Unit 7 - Software Flashcards by Hans Anders

What is DOS?

Disk Operating System. An early operating system introduced by Microsoft in 1975 as MS-DOS.

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What is a BIOS?

Basic Input/Output System. A chip that contains the boot instructions for a computer.

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What is updating your BIOS called?

Flashing.

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What is a POST?

Power On Self Test. A BIOS function that checks all hardware is present and working. After that, the OS starts taking over.

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What is CMOS?

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. It’s powered by a small battery and used to contain the BIOS configuration. If the battery died, settings were lost. The BIOS config is now on flash memory and CMOS just keeps the system clock.

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What is Firmware?

Software for hardware. Hard-coded instructions built into a device that cannot be updated and can be updated with difficulty.

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What is an API?

Application Program Interface. Used to make requests of hardware. API > OS > Drivers > Device.

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What is FAT?

File Allocation Tables. Used by MS-DOS to format disks. Later upgraded to FAT-16 and then FAT-32.

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What is de-fragmentation?

Files being saved and deleted would fragment hard-drives which causes slow access time. Defragmentation was run to resolve this.

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What is NTFS?

New Technology File System. Used by Windows 10 as file system. Can resize volumes and have user quotas.

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What is APFS?

Apple File System, used by MacOS 10.13 as file system. Provides improved access speed, on-demand volume size.

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What is ext4?

Fourth Extended file system. Used by Linux as file system, provides fragmentation protection.

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What cross support is there across OS for file system?

None! If you format a drive on a Mac, Windows cannot read it.

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What is a MIS?

Management Information System. Used for lower and mid-level management.

Managing files, sorting company data, creation action plans, track inventory, budget, porsonnel management.

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What is TPS?

Transaction Processing system. Handles operational transactions. Used by workers.

Payroll systems, order processing, inventory tracking, data validation, funds transfer.

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What is DSS?

Decision Support System. Designed to look at the future and make informed decisions, used by middle management.

Revenue predictions, hiring needs, inventory analysis, future sales.

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What is EIX?

Executive Information System. Similar to DDS but designed for executives, focuses on the big picture.

Performance analyses, inter-departmental productivity, market research data, future performance.

What is OLAP?

Online analytical processing. High performance data analyses, used by middle management.

Sales figures, product info, product comparison, employee information, data mining, creating reports.

What is data ming?

Producing useful information from large amounts of data.

What is software?

Either an OS or an application. OS uses hardware, applications have specific tasks.

What is freeware?

An app provided for free. Donations might be asked.

What is Open Source?

Source code of the app is freely shared.

What is adware?

Software sponsored by adds. You will see them in the app at strategic locations. You can sometimes buy an ad-free version.

What is off the shelf?

A generic application not tailor-made for a specific user or company.

What are the advantages of Subscription apps?

Prevent piracy Software is more affordable due to monthly charges instead of one-off You usually get upgraded to newer versions for free.

What is malware?

Destructive or nefarious code. It will have viruses or trojan horses embedded.

What is the first version of an app called?

Alpha version

What is a beta version of an app?

A version that contains most of the functionality and which is extensively tested. .

What is an embedded system?

A special purpose device that performs one primary task again and again. Fire alarm, voting machine, GPS, washing machine.

What is a microprocessor?

A really small CPU. Data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of them.

What is a microcontroller?

A chip containing a processor, RAM, output and input all build in. I/O travels through the pins. They have less RAM, hard to upgrade, and firmware on them. High reliability

What are the steps in software development?

The life cycle is: Analyze requirements Planning Design Development Testing Deployment/maintenance

What is done during Analyse requirements?

Ask yourself what the problems are that the software needs to solve, and write them down in a requirements document.

What is the Planning phase?

You examine the feasibility of the project, specify team assignments, examine risks and strategies, draw up a budget.

What is the design phase?

You create a design document to determine what is going to be developed. Make sure it is within budget and needs to be analysed for flaws.

What is the development phase?

This is where coding is happening and the actual software is being created.

What happens in the testing phase?

Software is Q&A tested for errors and for functionality. Coders will be notified and fix those errors.

What is the deployment and maintenance phase?

The last phase of software, it is in production, being used, and maintained by updating it to solve bugs and problems.

What is the waterfall model?

A rigid model flowing downwards, it's straightforward and moving to the next step when one is completed. You don't move backwards.

What is the spiral development model?

You intentionally go through several planning, design, development, testing cycles. It's very thorough but may take longer to develop.

What is the Big Bang Model?

A newer model where design, requirements, coding and testen all happen at once with fairly little planning. Big risk, but software can be released faster.