Chapter 3: Definitions Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are the 2 types of software?
application software and system software
Application software
developed to solve a particular problem for users, perform useful work on specific tasks or to provide entertainment
System software
most basic level of computer, enables the application software to interact with computer and helps the computer to manage its internal/external resources and manage hardware
What are the 3 components of system software?
operating system, device drivers and utility programs
Operating system
principle component of system software in any computing device
Device drivers
help computer control peripheral devices
Utility programs
used to support, enhance, or expand existing programs in computer system
Language translators
convert instructions written by programmers in a programming language into a language (machine language) that computers can understand and process
Operating system
low-level, master system of programs that manage the basic operations of the computer
What does the OS manage?
booting, CPU management, file management, task management, security management
Booting or bootstrapping
○ Process of loading an operating system into a computer’s main memory
What is the process of booting?
- turn computer on
- diagnostic routines test main memory, CPU, hardware
- Basic input/output system (BIOS) programs are copied to main memory (BIOS located in ROM)
- boot program obtains the OS and loads it into computer’s main memory
Cold boot
power up a computer by turning the power “on”, turn on computer’s “on” system
Warm boot
restart a computer that is already on
Network boot
boots the computer from the network
The boot disk
use a CD or flash drive containing all files to launch OS, boot from the cloud
What is the role of CPU management?
it supervises, manages memory and manages queues, buffers and spooling
Supervisor
aka kernal; software that manages the CPU, remains in memory while computer is running, directs other programs not in memory to perform tasks that support application programs
Queue
FIFO sequence of data or programs that waits in line for its turn to be processed
Buffer
place where the data or programs sit while they are waiting
To spool
act of placing a print job into a buffer
Data file
a named collection of data
Program file
a program that exists in a computer’s secondary storage
How does the OS file system arrange files?
in a hierarchical manner, top level in directories (folders) and sub directories come below folders
