Chapter 4 Flashcards
What are the three groups into which systems software is divided?
Operating systems, utility programs, and language translators.
What is an operating system (OS)?
A suite of programs acting as an interface between users and hardware.
What are the major functions of an operating system? List at least five.
- Resource sharing
- Device management
- Input/output handling
- Memory management
- Scheduling
True or False: An operating system is not a vital component of a computer system.
False
What type of operating system allows only one user to access the machine at a time?
Single-user operating system.
Name two examples of multi-user operating systems.
- UNIX
- VMS
What is a real-time operating system designed for?
Executing real-time applications with quick and predictable responses.
Fill in the blank: A _______ operating system allows multiple users to access the computer’s resources simultaneously.
[multi-user]
What is the difference between hard and soft real-time systems?
- Hard: Time is fixed and cannot change.
- Soft: Some moments can be changed.
What defines a distributed operating system?
It manages a group of independent computers, making them appear as a single computer.
What is an embedded operating system?
An OS designed for embedded computer systems with limited resources.
What is the purpose of language translators?
To translate programs written in other languages to machine language.
What is an assembler?
A program that translates assembly language into object code.
How does an interpreter function?
It reads, translates, and executes a program line by line into machine language.
What are the stages in the compilation process? List at least four.
- Lexical analysis
- Syntax analysis
- Semantic analysis
- Intermediate code generation
True or False: Compiled programs usually run slower than interpreted programs.
False
What is utility software?
Programs designed to help analyze, configure, optimize, or maintain a computer.
List three operations performed by utility software.
- File conversion
- File copy
- Housekeeping operations
What is application software?
Programs designed to solve specific problems.
Fill in the blank: Application software sits on top of _______ software.
[system]
Name two classes of application software.
- Word processors
- Database management systems
What is a user-defined application program?
Packages specifically designed for a typical set of users.
What sits on top of systems software?
Application software
Application software cannot run without the operating system and system utilities.
Name two classes of application software.
- Word processors
- Spreadsheet, database management systems, graphics, and user-defined software