✅1.2.2 Applications Generation

Question 1

What is application software?

Answer 1

Application software is designed to perform a specific task or tasks for a user.

Question 2

What are common types of application software?

Answer 2

Common types include word processors, database management, web browsers, graphics manipulation, games, and more.

Question 3

What is the purpose of word processors?

Answer 3

For creating, editing, formatting, and printing text documents.

Examples: Microsoft Word, Google Docs

Question 4

What is the purpose of database management software?

Answer 4

For storing, retrieving, manipulating, and managing data.

Examples: MySQL, Oracle

Question 5

What is the purpose of web browsers?

Answer 5

For browsing the web and accessing information online.

Examples: Google Chrome, Firefox

Question 6

What is the purpose of graphics manipulation software?

Answer 6

For editing and manipulating images, photos, and graphic designs.

Examples: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP

Question 7

What is the purpose of spreadsheet software?

Answer 7

For organizing, calculating, and analyzing numerical data.

Examples: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets

Question 8

What is the purpose of presentation software?

Answer 8

For creating visual and multimedia presentations.

Examples: Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote

Question 9

What is the purpose of antivirus software?

Answer 9

To protect the computer system from viruses and other malicious software.

Examples: Norton, McAfee

Question 10

What is the purpose of email clients?

Answer 10

For managing and accessing email across different email providers.

Examples: Outlook, Thunderbird

Question 11

What is the purpose of video editing software?

Answer 11

For editing and producing videos and films.

Examples: Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro

Question 12

What is the purpose of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)?

Answer 12

For developing, testing, and debugging software code.

Examples: Visual Studio, IntelliJ IDEA

Question 13

What is the purpose of virtualization software?

Answer 13

For creating and running virtual machines on a single physical machine.

Examples: VMware, VirtualBox

Question 14

What is the purpose of the utility software, disk defragmentation?

Answer 14

To rearrange the files on a hard drive to increase efficiency. By putting files into contiguous blocks and minimizing empty spaces, disk defragmentation speeds up file access and can improve overall system performance.

Question 15

What is the purpose of the utility software, file management?

Answer 15

To organize, search, rename, and relocate files stored on the system. Including creating, deleting, moving, and renaming files and folders.

Question 16

What is the purpose of the utility software, system clean-up?

Answer 16

To free up space on the system by removing unnecessary files and data. System clean-up utilities remove temporary files, system cache, unused applications, and other “junk” that can slow down the system.

Question 17

What is the purpose of the utility software, security?

Answer 17

To protect the computer system from various threats like viruses, malware, and spyware. It monitors the system and controls the computer’s activities to protect it from threats.

Question 18

What is open source software?

Answer 18

Software where the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. This means that anyone can view, access, and modify the code.

Question 19

What is closed source software?

Answer 19

Software where the original source code is hidden and proprietary. This means that only the individual or organisation that created the software has access to it and can modify it. And is typically sold with a license that restricts its use, modification, and distribution

Question 20

What is meant by a utility? [3]

Answer 20

A utility performs a specific task (1) and is usually related to the upkeep of the system (1).
Examples of a utility include a virus checker
(1)/disk defragmenter (1).

Question 21

Name 3 examples of utilities/utility software

Answer 21

1. Disk defragmentation
2. Compression
3. File-management
4. System cleanup
5. Security

Question 22

What do translators do?

Answer 22

Convert source code from a high-level language to a low-level language

Question 23

What are 3 types of translators?

Answer 23

1. Interpreters
2. Compilers
3. Assemblers

Question 24

What is an interpreter?

Answer 24

A program that translates high-level source code into machine code line-by-line and executes it immediately, without producing a separate executable file. So the interpreter has to re-translate next time the program is run.

Question 25

What is a compiler?

Answer 25

A program that translates high-level source code into machine code all at once, producing an executable file for reuse that can be run without the need for the original source code or the compiler itself.

Question 26

What is an assembler?

Answer 26

A program that converts assembly code to machine code.

Question 27

State how an application differs from a utility

Answer 27

An application is designed to perform a specific task for the user, whereas a utility is designed to maintain or configure the computer system.

Question 28

Define the term 'software'

Answer 28

The programs that run on a computer.

Question 29

Explain what is meant by a library, giving one example of when one may be used

Answer 29

A library is a collection of pre-written code or routines that can be reused by programs. An example is the math library in Python, which provides functions for mathematical operations.

Question 30

Describe three advantages of using a library

Answer 30

1. It saves time by allowing the reuse of pre-written code instead of writing code from scratch. 2. It is more reliable as they are often tested and optimised, reducing the chance of errors. 3. Popular libraries often have strong community support and documentation.

Question 31

Describe three disadvantage of the use of library files to programmers

Answer 31

1. Libraries may increase the size of the program, as unused functions and routines are included in the program even if they are not used. 2. It can have dependency issues as relying on a third-party library can lead to problems if the library is discontinued or not maintained 3. It can have compatibility issues as there might be compatibility issues with different versions of the library or the system you are working on

Question 32

What is a linker?

Answer 32

A program that combines object files and libraries into a single executable file by resolving references between them.

Question 33

Explain two differences between compilers and interpreters

Answer 33

1. Compilers translate code all at once, whereas interpreters translate code line by line. 2. Compilers produce an executable file for reuse whereas interpreters need to re-translate next time the program is run

Question 34

What are the 4 stages of compilation?

Answer 34

1. Lexical Analysis 2. Syntax Analysis 3. Code Generation 4. Optimisation

Question 35

What is compilation?

Answer 35

The process of translating the entire source code of a high-level programming language into machine code before it is run

Question 36

Explain what happens in lexical analysis

Answer 36

1. Comments and whitespace are removed 2. Keywords, identifiers, literals and operators are converted into tokens 3. Identifiers are added to the symbol table

Question 37

What are loaders?

Answer 37

System tools that load executable files into memory so they can be run by the operating system

Question 38

Describe what happens during syntax analysis, when code is compiled

Answer 38

1. Tokens are checked against the rules of the programming language 2. For example '$' could be a valid token but not a valid character according to particular programming languages. 3. Errors are reported as a list. 4. Error diagnostics given. 5. Details added to symbol table such as data type.

Question 39

A game uses a 2D graphics library. Explain why a linker would need to be used after compilation [3]

Answer 39

1. The user running the program will not necessarily have the library installed on their machine [1] 2. therefore the object files and libraries need to be combined by the linker into the final executable file [2]

Question 40

Explain why all closed source software is most likely to be compiled rather than run on an interpreter.

Answer 40

Compilers translate the source code prior to distribution meaning the user gets an executable program (which makes amending of the program much more difficult).

Question 41

Explain why system software is needed?

Answer 41

To control the hardware.

Question 42

Explain what happens in code generation?

Answer 42

Takes the abstract syntax tree and traverses it to generate object code (code that can be executed by a computer)

Question 43

Explain what happens in optimisation?

Answer 43

1. Modifies code to make it more efficient without changing its functionality. 2. Reduces the memory required to run the code leading to faster execution 3. For example removing duplicate code