Interaction of User and Computer Flashcards
(53 cards)
Provides the basic functions that are performed by the computer. It is necessary for the functioning of a computer.
Interacts with the system software and the users of the computer.
System Software
It is used by the users to perform specific tasks. The user may choose the appropriate application software, for performing a specific task, which provides the desired functionality.
Application Software
Intermediates between the user of a computer and the computer hardware.
Controls and coordinates the use of hardware among the different application software and the users.
Operating System
It acts as a translator between the hardware and the software that uses the devices.
Device Driver
are for character based devices like keyboard, which transfer data character by character.
Character device drivers
are for devices that transfer data as a block, like in hard disk.
Block device drive
It is required for the maintenance of computer.
Are used for supporting and enhancing the programs and the data in computer.
System Utilities Software
Examples of System Utilities
Anti-Virus Utility
Data Compression Utility
Cryptographic Utility
Disk Compression Utility
Disk Partitioning
Disk Cleaners
Backup Utility
System Profiling Utility
Network Managers
Consists of a set of vocabulary and grammatical rules, to express the computations and tasks that the computer has to perform.
Programming Languages
Machine languages and assembly languages are also called
low-level languages
Application software is usually written in
high-level languages.
A program written in machine language is a collection of binary digits or bits that the computer reads and interprets.
Machine Language
A program written in assembly language uses symbolic representation of machine codes needed to program a particular processor (CPU) or processor family.
Assembly Language
A program in a high-level language is written in an
English-like language
Isolates the execution semantics of computer architecture from the specification of the program, making the process of developing a program simpler and more understandable with respect to assembly and machine level languages.
High Level Language
Programming languages are also classified in terms of generations in which they have evolved.
First Generation: Machine language
Second Generation: Assembly language
Third Generation: C, COBOL, Fortran, Pascal, C++, Java, ActiveX (Microsoft) etc.
Fourth Generation: .NET (VB.NET, C#.NET etc.) Scripting language (Javascript, Microsoft Frontpage etc.)
Fifth Generation: LISP, Prolog
It is also referred to as a symbolic representation of the machine code.
Easier to write than the machine language program but is still machine dependent.
Assembly language
It is a software that converts a program written in assembly language into machine code.
Assembler
A program written in a high-level language has to be converted to a language that the computer can understand, i.e. binary form.
Software that translates the program written in a high-level language to machine language.
Converts the entire source code into object-code and creates the object code. The object code is then executed by the user.
Compiler
It is used to convert the high-level language program into computer-understandable form.
Performs line-by-line execution of the source code during program execution.
Converts a line into machine executable form, executes the line, and proceeds with the next line.
Interpreter
Three kinds of Translator Software.
Assembler
Compiler
Interpreter
It is a program that links several object modules and libraries to a single executable program.
Linker
The compiled and the linked program are called the —-.
Executable code
It is used to load and re-locate the executable program in the main memory.
Loader
