3.6.1.3 System Software.

Question 1

Define an operating system.

Answer 1

This is a set of programs that lies between the hardware and application software.

Question 2

Provide examples of tasks that an OS performs.

Answer 2

Resource management.
Provision of a user interface.
Managing hardware to allocate processors, memories and I/O devices amongst competing processes.

Question 3

Explain what a utility program is.

Answer 3

This type of software is designed to optimise the performance of the computer.

Question 4

Provide examples of what utility programs do.

Answer 4

Compressing/decompressing data.
Encrypting data before transmission.
Backing up files.
Restoring files from backup.
Providing a firewall.
Disk defragmentation. 
Virus checker.

Question 5

Define a library program.

Answer 5

Readily-compiled programs that can be run when needed. In windows they have a .dll extension. Most programming languages will have libraries of pre written functions that can be incorporated into programs.

Question 6

Define a translator.

Answer 6

When you write a program on a second generation or higher language, it must be translated into machine code before it can be executed, as computers can only run on machine code.

Question 7

Outline the different types of translators.

Answer 7

Compilers.
Assemblers.
Interpreters.

Question 8

What does an OS hide?

Answer 8

The operating system hides the complexities of the hardware.