Computer Science Long test revision

Chapter4

4.1 Types of software and interrupts

4.1.1 system software and application software
Software: All computers begin life as a group of connected hardware items. Without software, the
hardware items would be useless.
System software: these are programs that allow the hardware to run properly and allow the user to
communicate with the computer.

Application software: these are programs that allow the user to do specific tasks.

4.1.2 Operation system

An operation system is essentially a program or software running in the background of a computer
system, An operating system is a special piece of software that manages the general operation of a
computer system.

Function of operation system

The human computer interface (HCI) is in the form of a Command Line Interface (CLI) or a
Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Memory management carries out the following functions:

Security management is another part of a typical operation system; the function of security
management is to ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data.

Hardware management involves all input and output peripheral devices.

The main tasks of file management include:

Multitasking allows computers to carry out more than one task (i.e. a process) at a time. Each of the
processes will share the hardware resources under the control of the operating system software. To
make sure that multitasking operates correctly.
Management of user accounts: Computers allow more than one user to log onto the system. It is
therefore important that users’ data is stored in separate parts of the memory for security reasons
(also refer to security management earlier in this section). Each person logging onto the computer
will be given a user account protected by a user name and password.

4.1.3 Running of application

How application system runs?

When a computer starts up, part of the operating system needs to be loaded into RAM – this is
known as booting up the computer (or a bootstrap loader).
The start-up of the computer’s motherboard is handled by the basic input/output
system (BIOS). The BIOS tells the computer where the storage device that holds
the operating system can be found; it then loads the part of the operating
system that is needed and executes it.

The BIOS is often referred to as firmware. Firmware is defined as a program that provides low level
control for devices.

However, while the BIOS is stored on an EEPROM, the BIOS settings are stored on a CMOS chip
(Complementary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor). The CMOS is powered up at all times via a
rechargeable battery on the motherboard. Therefore, the BIOS settings would be reset if the battery
was removed or disconnected for some reason. Once the CMOS is re-started, it will access the
same BIOS program from EEPROM, but the settings will now be the default factory settings.

Interrupt is a signal that tells the processor to temporarily stops.

Buffer is a physical memory storage used to temporarily store the data.

Buffers and interrupts are often used together to allow standard computer functions to be performed.

4.2 Types of programming language, translators and integrated

development environments (IDEs)

4.2.1 Hight-level language and low-level language

A computer program is a list of instructions to preform a certain task .

Creating those instruction is programming by a programmer .

Programming is to make machine work . programming creates instruction set that a machine
follows.

To become a programmer you need to know the language

Modernly, we program in high-level language
With high-level language. The programmer only needs to know the language itself; no
knowledge of the hardware and instruction set of the computer using the program is required.

Low-level language can refer to machine code, the binary instruction that the computer
understand, or an assembly language that needs to be translated to machine code.
Programmers do not usually write in machine code as it is difficult to understand and it can be
complicated to manage data manipulation and storage

4.2.2 Assembly languages

4.2.3 Translators

A translator is a program which translates a program written by the user into a computer-
understandable format (machine code)

Types of translator:

-a compiler translates a program written in HLL into machine code. When a program is
compiled, the machine code can be executed again and again without having to recompile it.

-an interpreter executes a program written in a HLL one line at a time. It reads a statement,
performs the action specified and moves on to the next statement
-an assembler translates a program written in an assembly language into machine code. When
a program is assembled, the machine code can be executed again and again without having to
reassemble it.

4.2.4 Advantages and disadvantages of compilers and interpreters

4.2.5 integrated development environment (IDE)

An (IDE) is used by programmers to aid the writing and development of programs.

Ex. PyCharm (for python)
Question:

1.part of an operation system which carries out certain function such as virous
checking, defragmentation and screensaver

Answer: utilities

2.a type of interface that allows the user to type in commands on a keyboard
which gives the computer instruction

Answer: CLI

3.a signal which is sent to the CPU to suspend its current operation

Answer: interrupt

4.a process that reorganizes sectors on an HDD by rearranging blocks of data so

that they are contiguous

Answer: defragmentation

5.a program that provides low level control for devices

Answer: firmware

6. software that provides an environment in which applications can run and also
provides an interface between computer and human operator

Answer: operation system

7. not a function of the operation system

Answer: booting up the computer

8.a type of programming language that can write code that doesn’t take up much
space in primary memory

Answer: low-level programming language

9.an area in memory that temporary holds date

Answer: buffer

10.software that communicate with the operation system and translate data into
format understood by a hardware peripheral device
Answer: device driver
11.a type of programming language that is easier to read, write and understand
programs

Answer: high-level programming language

12.a computer program that translates an entire program written in

high-level language into machine code all in one go

Answer: compiler

13.is a computer program that reads a statement from a program

written in high-level language , translates it, performs the action
specified one line at a time

Answer: interpreter

14.is a computer program that translates a program written in an

assembly language into machine code

Answer: assembler

15.used by programmers to aid the writing and development of

programs

Answer: integrated development environments (IDE)

16.not a programming language

Answer: HTML

17.the part of an operation system that ensure the integrity,

confidentiality and availability of data

Answer: security management

18.the part of an operating system that controls main memory

Answer: memory management

19.part of an operating system that manages files in a computer

Answer: file management

20.software that supplies a still or moving image on a monitor if a

computer has been inactive for a period of time

Answer: screensaver

Made by Fatema AL Halwachi