1.2.2 Applications Generation

Question 1

Describe and give examples of applications software

Answer 1

Performs generic tasks for the user
Examples:
- Database (DBMS)
- Word processor
- Spreadsheet
- Graphics editor
- Desktop Publisher (DTP)
- Presentation Software
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Question 2

Which category of software would be used to perform each of the following tasks?

Answer 2

Question 3

Describe and give examples of utility software

Answer 3

A program with one specific purpose

A piece of system software used for the maintenance of the system

Examples:
- Disk Defragmenter
- Compression Utility
- Anti-Virus/Malware
- Device driver
- Firewall

Question 4

Describe open-source software

Answer 4

• Source code is freely available for others to amend / recompile
• Can be built on to tailor the program to specific needs without starting from scratch
• Code open for bugs to be spotted and fixed.
• Has the benefit of a community potentially improving the system

Question 5

Describe closed-source software (proprietary)

Answer 5

• The source code is not made available
• Distributed in binary form
• There is no permission to amend the program code, so cannot be ‘tweaked’
• Users are sold a license to use it (with conditions).

Question 6

Describe machine code

Answer 6

• The output of a translator
• Uses binary notation (0101010101000011)
• Dependent on architecture
• Harder to program

Question 7

Describe high-level languages

Answer 7

• Not architecture specific
• Can be recompiled for different architectures.
• Close to English

Question 8

Describe assembly language

Answer 8

• Uses mnemonics to represent machine code instructions/opcodes
• Consists of simple instructions
• Specific to the instruction set of the given processor

Question 9

What is a translator?

Answer 9

Software that converts code from high-level, or assembly, to machine code

Question 10

What are the 3 types of translators?

Answer 10

Interpreter

Compiler

Assembler

Question 11

Describe an interpreter and give an example of a language that would use one.

Answer 11

• Translates source code every time the program is run
• The user needs access to the source code to run the program
• Will run on any machine
• The slowest option for translators
• Translates code line by line
• Example: JavaScript

Question 12

Describe a compiler and give an example of a language that would use one.

Answer 12

• Machine dependent - different compilers are needed for each type of machine
• Creates an executable program (.exe)
• Users do not see the source code
• Will run quicker than the other options.
• Translates all the high-level code at once
• Example: C#

Question 13

Describe an assembler and give an example of a language that would use one.

Answer 13

• Used to convert assembly language into machine code
• Replaces mnemonic opcodes with machine code opcodes
• Replaces symbolic addresses with numeric addresses
• Creates one line of object code for each line of source code.
• Example Assembly Language