System software Flashcards
Two roles of the OS
Hide complexities of hardware from user
And to manage resources that processes compete for
How does the OS achieve these two goals
Acts as an interface between user and computer
Provide a virtual machine
Provide a platform which application software can run on
What are the 3 types of interfaces
Command line interface (cmd) - text based to view and manage computer files
Graphical user interface (GUI) - Form of user interface that allows users to interact with graphical icons and audio indicators
Application Programming Interfaces (API) - Layers of software that allow application programmers to call on services of operating system
Define processors
A processor is integrated electronic circuit that performs calculations that run a computer.
Processors does arithmetical, logical, I/O and other basic instructions passed from OS.
Most processes are dependent on operations of a processor.
Processes can appear to be running at same time, but (if only one processor) only one will be running at once.
One role of OS is to allocate processor time to each processes
Define I/O manager
Manages device drivers for input/output devices
How does the OS handle memory
OS keeps track of memory being used by which process
Each of the processes use groups of locations that are not contiguous
OS hides complexity as application programs and user do not need to know where in main memory program data and instructions is found
Define Storage
Uses a file manager that keeps directory of where files are stored as well as manages the file structure
Files are stored in clusters of blocks, spread through the disk. When we need to load the file the file manager collects the relevant clusters so the whole file can be loaded into the memory.
Define software key terms:
Software
Application software
System software
Software: General term for programs we run on our computer
Application software: Programs user can use to complete a specific task E.g. Chrome, Spotify
System software: Range of programs that deal with the more technical aspects of setting up and running a computer E.g. Defragmentation, Anti-virus
Define system software key terms:
Library programs
Operating System
Utility programs
Translators
Library programs: Common tasks such as file maintenance and can be built into other programs
Operating systems: Programs designed to control operations of a computer
Utility programs: Cover software designed for housekeeping on your computer
Translators: Software that converts programming language instructions into 1 and 0
