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OCR A Level Computer Science > Software applications > Flashcards

Software applications Flashcards

1
Q

What is the purpose of the operating system

A

Provides an interface between the user/ software and the hardware

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2
Q

Why would it be bad for a computer system to not have an OS

A

Without an OS, the computer would have less flexibility to run a variety of applications as each piece of software would have to be designed for the specific hardware it was run on

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3
Q

What is a user interface

A

The means by which a user of the computer interacts with the computer and receive the information that is processed

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4
Q

How the OS provide security

A

Ensures that resources are protected from unauthorised access through the use of permissions and passwords

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5
Q

Describe paging

A

During paging, logical address space is physically divided into units called pages, which are fixed size and can be stored non-contigously

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6
Q

Describe segmentation

A

Memory is split using Logical divisions which can be different sizes and can be stored non-contigously

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7
Q

Give 2 difference between paging and segmentation

A

Fixed size vs Different sizes

Pages made to fit sections of memory, segments are complete sections of programs

Physical divisions vs logical divisions

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8
Q

What is virtual memory

A

Where the OS swaps parts of the process that are not in use from main memory into allocated space on the hard disk and bring it back when needed

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9
Q

Give 1 pro and con of using virtual memory

A

Pro: Increases the potential memory storage capacity available

Con: Accessing data from virtual memory is slow and negatively effects performance

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10
Q

Describe multitasking

A

Where an OS allocates processing time to different tasks and switches between them giving the illusion that multiple things are occurring at once

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11
Q

What is an interrupt

A

A signal that is sent to the processor to request immediate attention

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12
Q

Give 2 reasons why a processor might be interrupted

A

Any 2:
Hardware device signaled it has data to process
Hardware device has completed a task
Software process needs OS to perform a function
An allocated amount of time has expired and an action needs to be performed
Hardware failure needs addressing

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13
Q

Describe the steps of an ISR

A
  1. Processor checks the interrupt queue to see of there is a high priority interrupt
  2. If there is, the processor moves the current contents of the registers into a stack
  3. The processor then loads the appropriate ISR into the RAM and sets a flag to show the ISR has begun
  4. The processor services the interrupt then checks if there is another.
  5. If not the flag is removed and the stack loaded back
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14
Q

If the current process is higher priority than an interrupt what happens

A

The interrupt must wait in a queue for the process before the ISR occurs

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15
Q

Describe round Robin scheduling

A

Processor time is split into equal time slices. If a process isn’t completed within a time slice is suspended and will only continue at its next time slice

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16
Q

Describe first come first served scheduling

A

The first process has as much processing time it needs to finish. Other processes must wait their turn.

Like a queue at the shop

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17
Q

Give 1 Pro and con of round Robin scheduling

A

Pro: ensures that every task is allocated processor time without waiting to long

Con: Does not scale well, as the more processes run the less time slices each has

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18
Q

Give one pro and con of first come first serve

A

Pro: Once a job starts it is guaranteed to be completed, no starvation

Con: Long queues may cause long waits for some processes

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19
Q

What is starvation

A

When a process cannot complete its execution because it has been constantly denied processor time

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20
Q

Describe shortest job first scheduling

A

The process than needs the shortest time to complete goes first

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21
Q

Give 1 Pro and con of shortest job first

A

Pro: shortest processes removed quickly which saves time for longer jobs

Cons: Longer jobs may face starvation is shorter jobs keep getting added

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22
Q

Describe shortest time first scheduling

A

The process with the shortest time to completion goes first until a different task is added with a shorter time to completion, which takes priority

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23
Q

Give 1 Pro and con of shortest time first

A

Pro: shortest time processes completed quickly so more time for longer processes

Cons: Longer processes face starvation if shorter time processes keep getting added

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24
Q

Give 1 Pro and con of shortest time first

A

Pro: shortest time processes completed quickly so more time for longer processes

Cons: Longer processes face starvation if shorter time processes keep getting added

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25
Q

Describe Multi-level feedback queue scheduling

A

Queues of tasks have different priorities, where processes are chosen based on the priority their queue and how much processing time it has already had

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26
Q

What is the advantage of multi level feedback queues

A

All tasks are given processor time, but more important jobs are dealt with sooner. No signal high priority task dominates the processor time

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27
Q

What does distributed OS do

A

Coordinates the communication between separate systems and essentially makes each node component parts that are joined together as a whole

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28
Q

When are distributed OSs useful

A

When processor intensive tasks need to be completed and a single processor cannot provide enough computational power on its own so needs multiple nodes to help

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29
Q

What does an embedded OS do

A

Provides a reliable platform for specific applications to carry out their processes at the cost of the flexibility of the system

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30
Q

When would an embedded OS be used

A

Used for systems that only serve specific purposes such as a washing machine

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31
Q

When would an embedded OS be used

A

Used for systems that only serve specific purposes such as a washing machine

32
Q

What does an multitasking OS do

A

Manages the computers resources to provide the illusion that it can seamlessly switch between tasks, by quickly switching between them

33
Q

When would a multitasking OS be useful

A

For systems that run multiple things simultaneously, like a laptop with multiple apps open

34
Q

What does a multi user OS do

A

Provides the facilities for multiple users to access the same system by controlling the resources that users can access without affecting other users

35
Q

When would a multi user OS be used

A

A place where multiple users may use the same computers but have different log in details, like a school

36
Q

What does a real time OS do

A

Supports applications that need to process data to produce particular outputs as fast as possible by ensuring a consistent response to inputs within a given time

Not very flexible

37
Q

When might a real time OS be used

A

Self-driving cars which needs fast response time to react to inputs so it can avoid danger quickly

38
Q

What does the BIOS do

A

Initializes and tests the hardware in a computer system so that it is ready from use

Uses the POST

39
Q

What does POST stand for

A

Power on self test

40
Q

What does the bootstrap do

A

Starts the initialization of the OS

41
Q

What does the POST do

A

Ensures that all hardware are correctly connected and functional

42
Q

What is a device driver

A

A program that controls the operation of a specific device (keyboard, mouse etc) that is part of the computer system

43
Q

What do device drivers do

A

Provide an interface that allows the OS and other software to interact with the device, without having to deal with the particular hardware implementation of the device

44
Q

What is a virtual machine

A

Where a host system runs software that allows other software to behave as if it were running on a hardware system

45
Q

Explain 1 potential use of a virtual machine

A

Supporting incompatible software:
Older software may not be able to run on newer systems so a VM can emulate an older system so the older software can run

46
Q

Give two examples of general purpose software

A

Presentation software
Word processor

47
Q

What is special purpose software

A

Software that is only used for a specific task

48
Q

Give an example of special purpose software

A

Scientific calculator

49
Q

What is bespoke software

A

Software that is developed to meet the user’s specific requirements

50
Q

Give 3 examples of utility software

A

3 from:
Compression
Defragmentation
Antivirus
Automatic updating
Backups

51
Q

What is the purpose of utility software

A

Utility software is used maintain the OS, ensuring it to be consistent and high performing

52
Q

What is closed source software

A

Where the source code is not freely available and users who gain access to use the code cannot make changes to the source code itself

53
Q

When an end user purchases closed source software what are they actually buying

A

A license to use the software

54
Q

What is open source code

A

Where the source code is freely available to download, where users can contribute to improving it

55
Q

Give one pro and con of closed source software

A

Pro: Development for user requirements

Con: Usually not free

56
Q

Give one pro and con of open source code

A

Pro: Usually free
Con: Quality varies, may contain bugs or be outdated

57
Q

What is a translator

A

A program that converts high level language into low level object code which can be executed by the computer

58
Q

How does a compiler work

A

After carrying out a number of checks, it translates high level code into machine code all at once

59
Q

How does a compiler work

A

After carrying out a number of checks, it translates high level code into machine code all at once

60
Q

Give 1 drawback of using a compiler

A

The compilation process is long compared to other translators and if changes are made the whole program must be recompiled again

61
Q

Give one benefit of using a compiler

A

One the program is compiled the code can be run on different devices without the translator, assuming the code is compatible with the new processor and OS

62
Q

How does an interpreter work

A

Translates code line by line and stop if an error is found

63
Q

Give one drawback of an interpreter

A

The code must be translated every time it is executed

64
Q

Give one benefit of interpreters

A

Good for testing code and pinpointing errors as time isn’t wasted compiling the whole program

65
Q

What does an assembler do

A

Translates assembly code into machine code

66
Q

What are the stages of compilation in order

A

Lexical analysis
Syntax analysis
Code generation
Code optimisation

67
Q

What happens during lexical analysis

A
  1. All white space is removed
  2. Creates tokens out of keywords and operators (lexemes)
  3. All comments are ignored
  4. Tokens are assembled into a symbol table
68
Q

What is a token

A

A string that the computer recognises , e.g. the number 8 may be assigned a token ‘number.8’

69
Q

What happens during syntax analysis

A
  1. Tokenised code is compared to the rules of the programming language
  2. If a section is found to not fit these rules an error occurs stat what and where the error I
  3. The user will get a full error report on all the errors that occurred
70
Q

What happens during code generation

A

Machine code is generated, which is what the CPU will work with to run the program

71
Q

What happens during optimisation

A

Machine code is optimised for efficiency, by removing procedures and variables that are written into the code but never used

72
Q

What is a library

A

Pre-written, compiled, tested and checked pieces of code that developers can rely on to help shorten code

73
Q

Give 1 Pro and con of libraries

A

Pro: Give developers shortcuts to achieve what they want without having to repeat code

Con: May not contain a function the developer requires

74
Q

What does a linker do

A

Links software responsible for linking libraries to code that uses them

75
Q

What is a loader

A

A type of program that loads the program you’re trying to run

OCR A Level Computer Science (8 decks)

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