1.2.2 Applications Generation Flashcards
(13 cards)
Describe and give examples of applications software
Performs generic tasks for the user
Examples:
- Database (DBMS)
- Word processor
- Spreadsheet
- Graphics editor
- Desktop Publisher (DTP)
- Presentation Software
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Which category of software would be used to perform each of the following tasks?
Describe and give examples of utility software
A program with one specific purpose
A piece of system software used for the maintenance of the system
Examples:
- Disk Defragmenter
- Compression Utility
- Anti-Virus/Malware
- Device driver
- Firewall
Describe open-source software
- Source code is freely available for others to amend / recompile
- Can be built on to tailor the program to specific needs without starting from scratch
- Code open for bugs to be spotted and fixed.
- Has the benefit of a community potentially improving the system
Describe closed-source software (proprietary)
- The source code is not made available
- Distributed in binary form
- There is no permission to amend the program code, so cannot be ‘tweaked’
- Users are sold a license to use it (with conditions).
Describe machine code
- The output of a translator
- Uses binary notation (0101010101000011)
- Dependent on architecture
- Harder to program
Describe high-level languages
- Not architecture specific
- Can be recompiled for different architectures.
- Close to English
Describe assembly language
- Uses mnemonics to represent machine code instructions/opcodes
- Consists of simple instructions
- Specific to the instruction set of the given processor
What is a translator?
Software that converts code from high-level, or assembly, to machine code
What are the 3 types of translators?
Interpreter
Compiler
Assembler
Describe an interpreter and give an example of a language that would use one.
- Translates source code every time the program is run
- The user needs access to the source code to run the program
- Will run on any machine
- The slowest option for translators
- Translates code line by line
- Example: JavaScript
Describe a compiler and give an example of a language that would use one.
- Machine dependent - different compilers are needed for each type of machine
- Creates an executable program (.exe)
- Users do not see the source code
- Will run quicker than the other options.
- Translates all the high-level code at once
- Example: C#
Describe an assembler and give an example of a language that would use one.
- Used to convert assembly language into machine code
- Replaces mnemonic opcodes with machine code opcodes
- Replaces symbolic addresses with numeric addresses
- Creates one line of object code for each line of source code.
- Example Assembly Language
