1.5 Systems Software Flashcards
(15 cards)
Operating system (OS)
A complex piece of software found on most computer systems
User interface
Allows the user to interact with a computer system
GUI
-most common type
-user interacts with it
-much easier to use
-perfect for touchscreen devices
OS functions
-communicate with internal and external hardware
-provide a user interface
-provide a platform for different applications to run
-allow the computer to multi-task
-deal with file and disk management
-manage the security of the system
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Device drivers
Allow the OS to communicate with internal hardware or peripherals
WIMP
Windows, icons, menus, pointers
Memory management
-manages RAM, loads applications, and keeps them separate to avoid conflicts
-swapping between processes and managing virtual memory when RAM is full
Processor management
Allocates CPU time to processes.
Uses scheduling to prioritize tasks.
Ensures efficient switching between applications.
File management
Naming, saving, organizing, and deleting files.
Disk management
Manages hard disk space, organizes storage, and handles read/write operations.
Utility software
Helps maintain files (e.g., defragmentation, file compression, encryption).
Defragmentation software
Reorganizes fragmented data to improve read/write speeds
Compression software
Reduces file size for storage and faster transfer (e.g., .zip, .rar)
Encryption software
Scrambles data to prevent unauthorized access. Requires a key to decrypt
Utility software
Programs that perform maintenance tasks
