1
Q
What is the purpose of an operating system?
A
provides an interface between the user and the hardware in a computer system
2
Q
What is a user interface?
A
how the user interacts with the operating system
3
Q
What is command line interface?
A
- user interface that requires users to use text based commands to interact with the operating system
- more commonly used by advanced users because it is very complex
4
Q
What is graphical user interface?
A
- user interface that requires users to interact with the operating system using visual elements such as windows, icons, menus, and pointers
- optimised for mouse and touch gesture input
5
Q
What is menu interface?
A
- user interface that consists of successive menus with a single option at each stage
- often performed with buttons or a keypad
6
Q
What is natural language interface?
A
- user interface that uses spoken word to respond to spoken or textual inputs from a user
7
Q
What are the 5 key OS management tasks?
A
- memory
- file
- security
- hardware
- process
8
Q
Describe memory management
A
- the process of the OS allocating RAM between different programs that are open at the same time
- RAM is allocated based on priority and fairness, as programs and data require different amounts of RAM to operate efficiently
- the OS is responsible for copying programs and data from secondary to primary storage as it is needed
9
Q
Describe file management
A
- the process of the OS creating, organising, manipulating, and accessing files and folders on a computer system
- the OS manages where data is stored on both primary memory and secondary storage
- OS allows users to control file permissions
- OS provides a search facility to find specific files as needed
10
Q
Describe hardware management
A
- the process of the OS managing the way peripherals interact with software
- the OS allocates system resources to peripherals to ensure efficient operation
- makes plug-and-play functionality possible, automatically detecting and configuring new pieces of hardware without the need for manually installing device drivers or power cycling the system
10
Q
Describe security management
A
- provides security features such as password-protected system accounts, firewalls, virus scanning and file encryption
- allows system administrator to allocate different access rights to different users
- the OS audits user file history and maintains settings for individual users
11
Q
What are device drivers and their use?
A
- a piece of software used to control a piece of hardware so they can be used by the operating system
- they are OS specific and are regularly updated
- the OS has generic device drivers built in, but for a hardware to be used to its maximum capacity, a separate device driver must be downloaded from the manufacturer
12
Q
Describe process management
A
- process of the OS dividing time into small chunks and allocating them to different processes
- these processes are prioritised by using a scheduling algorithm
- processes are placed in queue, whilst waiting to be carried out, and go to the back of the queue when their time is up
13
Q
What is utility software and why is it needed?
A
- collection of tools designed to help maintain a computer system
- it interacts with the computer’s hardware and is designed to perform a limited number of tasks
14
Q
List some examples of utility software.
A
- disk formatter
- disk contents analysis software
- defragmentation software
- virus checker
- file compression
- backup software
15
Q
Describe the purpose of disk formatter software
A
- it prepares a storage device for use by creating a file system and organising the space into sectors and tracks
- it is needed to wipe and reinitialise a disk before use, to change the file system format, and to remove all data and errors before installing a new OS or reusing the driver
16
Q
Describe the purpose of disk content analysis software
A
- checks the structure and health of a disk
- it is needed to diagnose and fix errors on the disk, to recover lost or damaged files, and to improve system performance by identifying and repairing issues
17
Q
Describe the purpose of defragmentation software
A
- it groups fragmented files back together in order to improve the access speed of a disk
- it can only be used on magnetic storage
18
Q
Describe virus checker
A
- combination of different software to prevent computers from being susceptible to viruses and other malware
- uses a list of known malware signatures to block immediately if they try to access the device in any way
- monitors the behaviour of programs to identify suspicious activities that might indicate malware
- perform checks for updates to ensure databases of signatures is up to date
19
Q
Describe file compression software
A
- reduces the amount of secondary storage required by performing an algorithm on the original data
20
Q
Describe backup software
A
- used to create copies of personal data in order to keep it safe in the event of accidental loss or data theft
- full: all files backed up (safer, slower)
- incremental: only files that have been added/modified since the last backup are backed up (less secure, faster)
21
Q
What is a program library?
A
- a collection of pre-written code that programmers can reuse in their own software
22
Q
What are the advantages of using program libraries?
A
- it saves development time as pre-written routines can be reused, so programmers don’t need to write common programs from scratch
- it promotes code reuse as well-tested routines can be used in multiple programs, reducing duplication
- it improves reliability as library routines are usually thoroughly tested and debugged, reducing the chance of errors
- it provides easier maintenance as updates to a library routine automatically benefits all the programs using it
- it promotes standardisation in how common tasks are implemented
23
Q
What is a Dynamic Link Library?
A
- a file that contains pre-written code, such as functions or routines, that can be used by multiple programs at runtime
24
What are the advantages of using a DLL?
- it reduces program size by keeping reusable code separate
- it saves memory by only loading when needed at runtime and by sharing DLLs between programs
- it promotes code reuse as well-tested routines can be used in multiple programs, reducing duplication
- supports modular design for easier development and maintenance
25
What are the disadvantages of using a DLL?
- it can cause version conflicts if newer DLLs aren't compatible
- program may fail to run if a required DLL is missing
- malicious or altered DLLs pose security risks
- errors in DLLs are hard to trace across multiple programs
26
What is an assembler?
- a piece of software that translates assembly language into machine code where each line of assembly language is assembled into a single machine code instruction
27
What is a compiler?
- software that translates high-level languages into machine code directly all in one go
- it creates an executable and can be run without the need for translation software
- generally used when programs are finished and have been checked for syntax errors
28
What are the advantages of using compilers?
- fast execution speed
- it optimises the code
- the original source code will not be seen
29
What are the disadvantages of using compilers?
- they can be memory intensive
- they are difficult to debug as errors will only show after the full execution of the program
- changes mean it must be recompiled
- it is designed solely for one specific processor
30
What is an interpreter?
- software that translates high-level language into machine code line by line
- it is not translated directly, appropriate machine code subroutines are called
- if an error is spotted, the process stops
- generally used when a program is in the development stage
- does not produce an executable, translation software is needed for it to run
31
What are the advantages of interpreters?
- stops when it finds a syntax error in the code, making it easier to debug
- requires less RAM to process the code
32
What are the disadvantages of interpreters?
- slower execution
- every time the program is run it has to be translated
- executed as is, no optimisation of code
33
What is mixed mode translation?
- when a high-level program is partially compiled into an intermediate form, not full machine code, which is then interpreted at runtime by a virtual machine
34
What are the advantages of mixed mode translation?
- faster than interpreter
- highly portable across platforms
35
What are the disadvantages of mixed mode translation?
- errors are only shown during compilation or runtime
- requires runtime software
36
What is an IDE?
- integrated development environment
- software tool that provides programmers with a comprehensive and integrated platform to write, edit, compile, debug, and manage their code efficiently
37
What are the features of IDE?
- for initial error detection, dynamic syntax checks and autocomplete
- for presentation, including pretty print, expand and collapse code blocks
- for debugging, single stepping, breakpoints, error message list
38
Describe how a typical IDE could be used to help debug a program to find errors.
- You could set a breakpoint to stop the program at a particular instruction
- Then, the value of the variables could be checked using a report window
- Single stepping could be used to execute one line at a time
CS a levels
flashcards
Decks in class (11)
# Cards
-
Chapter 1 - Information Representation71
-
Chapter 2 - Networks & The Internet146
-
Chapter 3 - Hardware55
-
Chapter 5 - System Software39
-
Chapter 4 - Processor Fundamentals56
-
Chapter 6 - Security, Privacy, and Integrity40
-
Chapter 12 - Software Development34
-
Chapter 7 - Ethics & Ownership33
-
Chapter 8 - Databases23
-
Chapter 10 - Data Types & Structures49
-
Chapter 9 - Algorithm Design & Problem Solving3
