1.2.2 (Applications generation)

Question 1

What is systems software, and give examples?

Answer 1

• Programs that run on the computers hardware and OS
• File explorer, memory management, drivers

Question 2

What is application software, and give examples?

Answer 2

• Programs that performs a task for the user
• Word, Teams, Google

Question 3

What are the categories of software?

Answer 3

• Utility
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet
• Web browser
• Media editing
• Games

Question 4

What is open source software?

Answer 4

Programs that reveal their source code

Question 5

Advantages and disadvantages of open source?

Answer 5

Advantages

• Draws on many coders/testers
• Gets access to help you couldn’t afford

Disadvantages

• Hard to maintain a clear purpose
• Hard to monetise

Question 6

What is closed source software?

Answer 6

Programs that hide their source code

Question 7

What are the advantages and disadvantages of closed source?

Answer 7

Advantages

• More secure
• Easier to monetise
• Controlled

Disadvantages

• All coders have to be paid
• Requires making a profit

Question 8

What is utility software?

Answer 8

Programs that help a computer system run efficiently

Question 9

What is disk defragmentation software?

Answer 9

• Utility software
• Rearranges secondary storage so files are stored contiguously

Question 10

What is compression software?

Answer 10

• Utility software
• Makes files smaller to allow for better use of storage

Question 11

What is a translator?

Answer 11

Converts programming languages into machine code

Question 12

What is an assembler?

Answer 12

Converts assembly mnemonics to machine code

Question 13

What is an interpreter?

Answer 13

• Converts high level code to machine code
• Runs until it hits an error
• Code has to be interpreted each time
• Requires the source code
• Machine independent
• Some code may never run

Question 14

What is a compiler?

Answer 14

• Reads the whole code then translates to machine code