Software Classification
Overview
You have never once told a computer which region of memory to put a document in, or which of its processor cores should run your music player, or how to turn a keystroke into a letter on screen. Somebody has to decide all of that, thousands of times a second, and it is not you and it is not the application you are using. It is a layer of software sitting underneath everything, whose entire job is to run the machine so that nothing above it has to.
This lesson divides software into the two classes the specification names, system software and application software, and then goes properly into the most important piece of system software there is. You will learn the five things an operating system manages, why each of them has to be managed centrally rather than by each program for itself, and where utility programs fit: the small specialised tools that look after the computer itself rather than doing any of the user's work.
Objectives
- Explain what is meant by:
- system software
- application software.
- Give examples of both types of software. Understand the need for, and functions of, operating systems (OS) and utility programs. Understand that the OS handles management of the:
- processor(s)
- memory
- I/O devices
- applications
- security.
Mind map
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Software Classification. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of these is application software? A. An operating system B. A printer driver C. A spreadsheet D. A disk clean-up utility Answer: C
- Which of these is NOT one of the resources the specification says an operating system manages? A. Memory B. Security C. Input and output devices D. The colour of the desktop background Answer: D
- What is a utility program? A. Application software that produces documents for the user B. System software that performs a specific maintenance task on the computer C. A physical component fitted inside the computer D. A program that can only be run by the manufacturer Answer: B
- Why is memory management needed? A. To make the processor run at a higher clock speed B. To allocate memory to each program and stop programs writing into each other's areas C. To increase the physical amount of memory fitted D. To convert application software into system software Answer: B
- A single processor computer appears to run three programs at once. How? A. Each program is given its own processor B. The operating system switches between them very rapidly C. Two of the programs are actually stopped D. The programs are merged into one Answer: B
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