4.

SOFTWARE
Types of software
SYSTEM SOFTWARE APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Provides services that computer requires. Provides services that the user requires.

Examples: Examples:
- Utility software (eg. defragmentation - Word processor
software, antivirus, firewall, screensaver) - Web browser
- Operating system - Photo/video editing software
- Gameware

Runs when system is turned on and stops Runs as per the user’s request.
running when system is turned off.

Smaller; requires less storage space. Requires more storage space.

Complex; performs variety of tasks. Only performs a single task.

NOTE:
- Application software runs directly on the operating system.
- Component in the computer that would store both types of software when the power is
turned off: Secondary storage // HDD // SSD

Operating System
- A program designed to run other programs on a computer.
- Provides an environment in which applications can run and also provides an interface
between computer & human operator.
- Backbone of computer: manages both software and hardware resources.
- Examples: Windows, MAC, Linux

NOTE:
- Most computers store OS on a HDD or SSD, since they tend to be large programs.
- Mobile phones and tablets store OS on SSD (as HDD is too large).

Functions

Provides user interface - Allows user to interact with OS.

(Human computer interface / - Converts user input to form that computer can
HCI) understand and vice versa.
- Should be easy to use

Manages user accounts - Each user is provided with account for access to
system.
 - Accounts accessed using username + password
- Users granted different levels of access
- Monitor login activity & log users out if they have been
inactive for a while

Manages security software/ - Creates/deletes users for system

provides system security - Provides access level rights
- Protects from viruses/worms/malware
- Regular security updates

Manages file handling/ file - Create/save/open/close/move/copy/ rename/deletes files

management - Sort files
- controls file permissions: ability to open/view

Manages - Handles all devices connected to computer: input

hardware/peripherals/drivers devices (keyboard & mouse) + output devices (monitor
& printer)
- Communicates with devices through drivers

Driver
- Software that translate instructions from computer so
devices can understand
- Allows devices to communicate with the computer

Manages multitasking - Allows tasks to be completed at same time.

- Uses time slicing: splits different tasks into small
segments.
- Tasks can be run one after the other: to seem like
multiple tasks are completed at same time.

Handles interrupts

Memory management - Keeps track of status of each memory location

- Manages movement of data to & from RAM
- Checks that processes have enough memory located to
them
- Makes sure that 2 processes don’t try to access same
memory location
- Manages transfer of pages between virtual memory &
RAM
- Allows multitasking

Platform for running - Application programs & hardware communicate

application software through system within OS called application programs
interface(API)
- OS allocates memory space & controls application's
data, devices & user access
Why PC requires an operating system
- It performs a number of basic tasks, including controlling hardware, file handling.
- It allows the user to communicate with the computer using hardware.
- It provides the user with a user interface.
- PC’s are often used to perform many complex tasks at a time.
- An OS is needed to handle this multitasking.
- Therefore, it also provides the ability to handle interrupts.

Describe purpose of operating system

- It performs the basic functions of a computer
- It manages the hardware
- It provides a platform to run software
- It provides a user interface
- It performs tasks such as (any example of function of an operating system)

Hardware, Firmware & the OS - Running of applications

- Applications are run on the operating system

- The operating system is run on the firmware
- The bootloader (firmware) is run on the hardware

Example: If you were to type on a word processing document

- Word processor communicates with OS to request key presses.
- OS communicates with firmware to check whether keyboard
(hardware) is available.
- Once connection is established with hardware (keyboard) it
communicates back through firmware
- Key instructions passed up to OS & finally displayed on word
processing software

Part of a computer of which the bootstrap is an example: firmware

Interrupts
- A signal sent from a device/ software to a microprocessor requesting its attention.
- Microprocessor suspends all operations until interrupt has been serviced.
- It causes OS to take specified action.
 How interrupt is generated - Device/software generates interrupt
- Interrupt signal sent from
device/software to CPU/processor

How interrupt is handled using interrupt - Interrupt is given priority

service routine - Interrupt is queued
- Interrupt causes CPU to stop current
process
- Status of current process & contents of
registers is first saved
- CPU services the interrupt
- Interrupt service routine is used

What happens as a result of interrupts - Interrupt will be executed instead of

original instructions
- Once interrupt is serviced, status of
interrupted process is restored
- Previous process continues
- Message is displayed/output to user

When a user is reading a text on the mobile phone, they may also get a telephone call on
the mobile phone. An interrupt signal is generated that results in an output to inform the
user that a person is calling them. Describe how the interrupt signal is processed to inform
the user that a person is calling them.
- The interrupt signal is sent to the CPU/processor
- The CPU stops the task it is currently processing …
- ... to service the interrupt
- An interrupt service routine is used (to service the interrupt)
- Once the interrupt is serviced, a message is displayed to notify the user of the call

Role of interrupt in generating message on computer that paper has jammed

- Printer generates interrupt
- Interrupt is given a priority
- Interrupt is queued
- Interrupt stops CPU from processing current task
- CPU will service interrupt // Interrupt handler services interrupt …
- … generating an output message to state there is a paper jam

Why interrupts are needed

- To identify that the processor's attention is required // to stop current process/task
- To allow multitasking
- To allow for efficient processing, by prioritising actions
- To allow for efficient use of hardware
- To allow time-sensitive requests to be dealt with immediately
- To avoid the need to poll devices

What would happen if computer does not use interrupts

- The computer would only start a new task when it had finished processing current task
- Computer will not be able to multitask
- Errors may not be dealt with
- Computer would become impossible to use

Types of interrupt:
- Hardware Interrupt
- Moving the mouse
- Clicking a mouse button
- Plugging in a device
- Paper jam in printer
- Printer out of paper
- Software Interrupt
- Division by zero
- Two processes accessing the same memory location
- Null value

Examples of when interrupt is generated

(in printer)
- Paper jam
- Paper tray empty/ runs out of paper
- Runs out of ink
- Buffer requires more data
Software interrupt
- Division by zero
- Two processes trying to access the same memory location
Change of task
- When switching from one application to another
- A peripheral is connected/disconnected
- A phone/video call is received
Hardware interrupt
- A key on a keyboard is pressed
- A mouse button click
NOTE:
- They can be hardware based or software based
- They are handled by the OS.
- They have different levels of priority; don’t work out which program to give priority to.
- They allow the computer to multitask or have several windows open at the same time
- They allow multiple functions to co-exist.

Programming languages
Computer program: a list of instructions that enable a computer to perform a specific task.
Syntax: structure of language statements in a computer program.

High-level language Low-level language

Uses English-like statements / close to human - Close to the language processed

language by computers
- May use mnemonics
- Eg: assembly language/machine
code

- Needs to be converted to machine code to be - Machine code doesn't need to be

processed by computer converted
- ... using a translator - Assembly language require
assembler

Portable / machine independent Machine dependent

Problem / logic focussed

Advantages Advantages
1. Closer to human language - Directly manipulate hardware
- Easier/quick to read/write/understand: can - Can use specialised hardware /
write code in less time machine-dependent instructions
- Easier/quicker to debug: can find and correct - Quicker to execute
errors in less time - Smaller file size // less storage
- Less likely to make errors space
2. Machine independent/ code is portable - Program will be more memory
- Can be used on many different computers efficient: useful when application
without need for understanding of hardware has high memory consumption
- Because it is written in source code. - No requirement for program to be
- Because it’s compiled to object code. portable
3. Only need to learn a single language - No requirement for
- This can be used on many computers. compiler/interpreter
4. They have built-in functions or libraries
- Saves time when writing the program
5. Can use an IDE
 6. No need to manipulate memory addresses
directly
- specialised knowledge of this not required
7. Can focus on the problem instead of the
manipulation of memory/hardware
8. Easier to maintain
9. One line of code can carry out multiple
commands

Disadvantages Disadvantages
- Cannot directly manipulate hardware - More difficult to
- Take longer to execute: may need to wait for read/write/understand.
translation before running - Takes longer to write & debug
- Program may be less efficient - Not machine independent
- Programs larger

Assembly language
- Form of low-level language that uses mnemonics
- Assembler is needed to translate assembly language program to machine code

Drawbacks of assembly language

- Programs are not portable
- It is complex to learn
- Difficult to debug

Translators
Compiler Interpreter

how program is translated - Translates high-level - Translates high-level

language to low-level language to low-level
language/ machine code - Checks/translates one
- Checks/translates all code line of code & executes it
before it is executed before moving onto next
- Creates executable file line

how errors are reported - Creates an error report - Stops when error found
after trying to compile - when corrected, program
- Displays all errors in code can be run from same
- Errors require correction position // allows error
before executing correction in real time
Similarities between compiler & interpreter
- Both translate high level language to machine code
- Both generate error report // check for errors
Difference between compiler & interpreter

Interpreter Compiler

translates one line at a time / checks one translates whole code in one go / checks all
line and then executes immediately code before executing

stops & reports when error is encountered creates error report at the end of
// corrects errors in real time translation

run code up to the point it finds an error will not run code at all if an error is found

does not produce an executable file produces an executable file

required to run the code each time if used Not required to run the code each time

Used during program development Used for program distribution

- Easier to debug - Creates an executable file
- … as errors immediately reported when - … so, translator not required every time
detected - … so would not release source code;
source code cannot be stolen/edited
- … making it machine independent

Benefits of compiling
- Code will run without the need of an translator
- Code is platform independent.
- Source code not available, therefore cannot be modified
Drawbacks of compiling
- Source code not available, therefore cannot be modified
- Comments, etc. are not visible
- Future changes will require the code to be recompiled

Uses of interpreter & compiler

Why both interpreter and compiler are used together
- To translate high-level language to low-level language.
- Interpreter is used while writing the program.
- Interpreter is used to debug code line-by-line.
- Compiler is used when the program is completed.
- Compiler is used to create a separate executable file (so compiler no longer needed).
- If it runs for the first time in a compiler, there are no syntax errors.

At what point of game creation is it appropriate to use an interpreter

- During development / when writing the program // when debugging
- Easier to debug
- Stops when an error is detected
- Reports one error at a time
- Can correct errors in run-time // correct the line and then continue running from that point
- Can test one section without the rest of the code being completed

At what point of game creation is it appropriate to use a compiler

After completion / for distribution:
- It creates an executable file
- That can be distributed without source codE
- So that other people cannot edit/view the code
- So end users do not need translator software // so end users do not need to
compile/interpret each time
- So it is machine/platform independent
For final/ repeated testing:
- It creates an executable file
- Do not need to retranslate for each test sequence
- Can test repeatedly with different data faster

Integrated development environment (IDE)

Software that provides useful functions for a programmer writing a computer program

Features/functions

Code editors - allows users to write & manipulate source code

- includes features like auto-completion & auto-correction,
bracket matching, syntax checks

Auto-completion

Auto-correction

Run-time environment allow the program to run and see its corresponding output

Built‐in translator compiles or interprets the code

(compiler/interpreter)

Error diagnostics - Identifying errors: highlights areas of code / provides error

messages where error occurred e.g. indentation errors
- Debugging errors: Provides step by step instructions of what
is happening in each line of code, to catch logical errors

Prettyprinting - changing font, font size, making text bold

- displays keywords in different colours

Commenting - sections of code commented to explain what it is doing