1.2.2 Applications Generation

Question 1

What is an assembler?

Answer 1

A translator in low level language, which converts assembly language into machine code

Question 2

What is closed-source software?

Answer 2

Proprietary software sold with a license and restrictions on how and how many users can use it. The source code is not available to users.

Question 3

What is code generation?

Answer 3

The third and final stage of compilation, where an equivalent machine code program is produced

Question 4

What is compilation?

Answer 4

The process of anaylsing high level language source code and converting it to machine code

Question 5

What are compilers?

Answer 5

A translator that converts high level language to machine code as a single executable file

Question 6

What are interpreters?

Answer 6

A translator that checks a source program for syntax errors line by line, translates it to machine code, and executes the line.

Question 7

What are libraries?

Answer 7

A collection of programs which are already compiled and can bed loaded into a program and run whenever required.

Question 8

What is open-source software?

Answer 8

Software whose source code is freely available to view, redistribute, or modify.

Question 9

What is a translator?

Answer 9

A program which converts code from one computer language to another

Question 10

What are utilities?

Answer 10

Systems software with a specific purpose usually related to maintenance, such as optimising the performance of the computer

Question 11

What is application software?

Answer 11

Applications software is designed to be used by the end-user to perform one specific task. Application software requires systems software in order to run.
Examples: desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheets​, web browsers.

Question 12

What is system software?

Answer 12

Systems software is low-level software that is responsible for running the computer system smoothly, interacting with hardware, and generally providing a platform for applications software to run.

Question 13

What is compression utility?

Answer 13

Operating systems provide utilities that enable files to be compressed and decompressed. This is used when compressing large files to be transmitted across the Internet and is commonly used to compress scanned files.

Question 14

What is disk defragmentation utility?

Answer 14

As the hard disk becomes full, read/write times slow down because they are stored in different parts of memory.
The disk defragmenter utility rearranges the contents of the hard drive so they can be accessed faster, thus improving performance.

Question 15

What is antivirus utility?

Answer 15

Antivirus is responsible for detecting potential threats to the computer, alerting the user, and removing these threats.

Question 16

What is automatic updating utility?

Answer 16

Ensures the operating system is kept up to date, with any updates being automatically installed when the computer is restarted. Updates tackle bugs or security flaws, so this ensures the system is less vulnerable to malware and hacking threats.

Question 17

What is backup utility?

Answer 17

Automatically creates routine copies of specific files selected by the user.
How often files are backed up is also specified by the user.
This means that in the event of a power failure, malicious attack or other accident, files can be recovered.

Question 18

What is source code?

Answer 18

Source code is written by a programmer and refers to object code before it has been compiled.

Question 19

What are the advantages of open-source software?

Answer 19

Can be modified and improved by anyone Technical support from online community
Can be modified and sold on

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of open-source software?

Answer 19

Support available online may be insufficient or incorrect.
No user manuals.
Lower security as may not be developed in a controlled environment

Question 20

What are the disadvantages of closed-source software?

Answer 20

License restricts how many people can use the software at once
Users cannot modify and improve software themselves

Question 21

What are the advantages of closed-source software?

Answer 21

Thorough, regular and well-tested updates Company-owned software provides expert support and user manuals.
High levels of security are developed professionally.

Question 22

What is high-level code?

Answer 22

Code that is written and understood by the programmer but not the computer. Typically similar to an English syntax

Question 23

What are the advantages of an assembler?

Answer 23

Programs written in machine language can be replaced with mnemonics, which are easier to remember
Memory efficient
Speed of execution is faster
Hardware oriented
Requires fewer instructions to accomplish same result

Question 24

What are the disadvantages of an assembler?

Answer 24

It takes alot of time to code or write the program, as it more complex in nature Lack of portability between computers of different makes

Question 25

What are the advantages of a compiler?

Answer 25

No need for translation at run time speed of execution is faster Code is usually optimized original source code is protected and kept secret

Question 26

What are the disadvantages of a compiler?

Answer 26

Code needs to be recompiled when the code is changed Designed for a specific type of processor Program will not run with syntax errors, which can make it more difficult to code

Question 27

What are the advantages of an interpreter?

Answer 27

Easy to write source code, as the program will always stop when it finds a syntax error Code does not need to be translated when the code is changed

Question 28

What are the disadvantages of an interpreter?

Answer 28

Translation software is required at run time Speed of execution is slower - bad for games, etc. Code is not optimized Source code is required—cant be used with closed source

Question 29

What is assembly code?

Answer 29

Considered to be a low-level language, it’s the ‘next level up’ from machine code. Assembly code is platform-specific, as the instructions used are dependent on the instruction set of the processor.