Software Flashcards

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1
Q

What are utility programs?

A

Programs that perform tasks related to the running of a computer, such as defragging

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2
Q

What are library programs?

A

Code that can be called by other programs

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3
Q

What is a virtual machine in the general sense?

A

The concept that all the complexities of using a computer are hidden from the user by the operating system

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4
Q

What tasks does the OS carry out?

A

User interface (explorer.exe, start menu etc), decides which areas of memory to allocate to programs, communicates with hardware

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5
Q

What is resource management?

A

How the OS manages hardware and software to maximise performance

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6
Q

What is scheduling and how does it work?

A

Scheduling is a technique to ensure that different users or different programs are able to run at the same time. Each process is given a time slice in which it can execute instructions. When the time slice is over, the OS moves on to the next program’s time slice. Advanced schedulers allocate more/less time to programs depending on what they’re doing

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7
Q

What is the heap?

A

The area of unallocated memory which the OS allocates to programs. The size of the program determines how much memory the OS will allocate

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8
Q

What is virtual memory?

A

When the PC runs out of memory, secondary storage is used to store data that would normally be stored in RAM.

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9
Q

What is paging?

A

A central part of a program’s code is loaded into RAM, , and other sections of the code (pages) are loaded from the secondary storage when needed

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10
Q

[PPQ] Describe two different types of resource management that an operating system is
responsible for

A

Decides which program’s code to execute when

Allocates RAM to programs that request it

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