1. Fundamentals Of Computer Systems

Question 1

Define: software

Answer 1

Computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling computer hardware what to do and how to do it

Question 2

Define: system software

Answer 2

Software designed to operate the computer hardware and to provide a platform for running application software

Question 3

Define: hardware

Answer 3

Physical components that make up a computer system

Question 4

System software types

Answer 4

Operating systems
Library programs
Utility programs
Programming language translators

Question 5

Define: operating systems

Answer 5

Provide an interface between the computer and user
Manages devices/files / memory
Provides a virtual machine
Provides a software platform on which other programs can run
Hides op the complexity of the hardware from the user

Question 6

Define: library programs

Answer 6

A collection of compiled routines that other programs can use

Question 7

Define: utility programs

Answer 7

Programs that perform a very specific task related to working with computers

Question 8

What are the programming language translators

Answer 8

Assembler
Compiler
Interpreter

Question 9

Define: assembler

Answer 9

Translates assembly language programs into machine code

Question 10

Define:compiler

Answer 10

Translates high level language (source code) into object code

Question 11

Define: interpreter

Answer 11

Analyses and executes a high level language program one line at a time

Question 12

Advantages of compiler

Answer 12

Produces an executable file
Source code secure as it is no longer needed
Quick to run as its already translated
Distributed easily

Question 13

Disadvantages of compiler

Answer 13

Source code must be 100% correct as errors can’t be changed
May not work on all types of computer
Compiling could take a long time depending on the size of the program

Question 14

Advantages of interpreter

Answer 14

Can be executed immediately

Useful for debugging programs

Question 15

Disadvantages of interpreters

Answer 15

Execution will be slower than compiled code
Has to be interpreted every time it is run
Source code not secure

Question 16

Define: application software

Answer 16

Software designed to help the user perform specific tasks

Question 17

Examples of operating systems

Answer 17

Windows OS, iOS, Andriod, OS X, Linux, Ubuntu

Question 18

Examples of library programs

Answer 18

Print routine, runtime library

Question 19

Example of utility programs

Answer 19

Disk formatter, disk defragmenter, disk cleaner, file compressed, firewall

Question 20

Types of application software

Answer 20

General purpose application software
Special purpose application software
Bespoke application software

Question 21

Examples of general application software

Answer 21

Word processor, spreadsheet software, database software, presentation software

Question 22

Examples of special purpose application software

Answer 22

Payroll calculator, tax calculator, web browser

Question 23

Define: general purpose application software

Answer 23

Generic software that can be bought to perform many tasks

Question 24

Define: special purpose application software

Answer 24

Software created to perform 1 specific task.

Question 25

Define: bespoke application software

Answer 25

Software tailor made for 1 specific purpose unique to the customer. Usually expensive as has to be written speifically

Question 26

Examples of bespoke application software

Answer 26

Military software, hospital software,

Question 27

Advantage of general application software

Answer 27

Cheap, can perform many tasks, lots of support from other users, readily available, probably contains less bugs

Question 28

What is first generation programming

Answer 28

Machine code | Binary

Question 29

Functions of machine code

Answer 29

Fast and efficient Can make use of specific processor features such as special registers Code can't be ported to other operating systems Code is difficult to edit and update

Question 30

What is second generation programming

Answer 30

Assembly language

Question 31

Functions of assembly code

Answer 31

Mnemonic code direct version of machine code. Fast and efficient Can make use of special processor features such as special registers Code cannot be ported to other systems and has to be re written

Question 32

What is third generation programming

Answer 32

Imperative high level language

Question 33

Define: imperative language

Answer 33

Code is executed line by line, in s programmer defined sequence

Question 34

Define: fourth generation programming language

Answer 34

Declarative programming - define what to do rather than how to do it.

Question 35

Define: declarative language

Answer 35

Describe what computation should be performed, and not how to perform it

Question 36

Functions of an assembler

Answer 36

Fast to translate assembly language to machine code as relationship is 1 to 1 Assembly code is efficient and fast because it is low level language Assembly code is fairly easy to understand Written for a certain instruction set and processor / hardware Too simple for some tasks.

Question 37

Functions of a compiler

Answer 37

High level to low level as an executable file Source code secure - not included Faster than interpreter Object code needs to be perfect as can't be edited or fixed

Question 38

Functions of an interpreter

Answer 38

Used for debugging, creating multi platform code, prototyping Source code required, slower due to translating line by line