Software

• What are the three generations of programming languages?

  Machine code, assembler, imperative high level
• What does 'imperative' mean in programming languages?

  It means Command
• Why are high-level programming languages easier to understand?

  They are closer to English language
• What is the role of a translator in programming?

  To convert instructions into machine code
• What advantage do high-level languages offer regarding portability?

  They are independent of processor architecture
• What is one instruction in high-level languages mapped to?

  Several machine code instructions
• What programming constructs do high-level languages support?

  Sequencing, selection, iteration, assignment, functions
• What do declarative programming languages determine?

  What is to be computed
• What do low-level programming languages refer to?

  Machine code and assembly language

  
• What does low-level refer to in programming languages?

  A low level of abstraction
• How does low-level language relate to processor instructions?

  One operation maps to one instruction
• Why are low-level languages not portable?

  They depend on processor architecture
• Why are low-level languages difficult for humans to understand?

  They are close to machine language
• In what scenarios are low-level languages appropriate?

  Developing operating systems and device drivers
• How is machine code expressed?

  In binary values 0 and 1
• What are the two parts of a machine code instruction?

  Operator and operand
• What does the operator in machine code do?

  Identifies the task to be carried out
• What does assembly language provide?

  Basic computer instructions for programs
• What is the relationship between machine code and assembly code?

  One-to-one correspondence
• How does assembly language differ from machine code?

  Uses mnemonics instead of binary
• What is a key feature of assembly language?

  Specific to each processor's instruction set
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of low-level programming languages?

  Advantages:

  • Better optimized and efficient
  • Control over hardware
  • Necessary for some embedded systems

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Difficult to understand and modify
  • Not portable across architectures
  • Time-consuming to write
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of high-level programming languages?

  Advantages:

  • More portable across systems
  • Easier to understand and modify
  • Faster to write

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Requires a compiler or interpreter
  • Runs slower due to abstraction layers
• What is the role of program translators?

  To translate programs into machine code
• How does an interpreter work?

  Converts code one instruction at a time
• What is a key advantage of using an interpreter?

  Good for debugging code
• What does a compiler do?

  Converts code before the program runs
• What is a key benefit of compiled code?

  Runs faster than interpreted code
• What is intermediate code?

  Source code in a standard form
• What is the difference between source code and object code?

  Source code is not executable; object code is
• What is the role of hardware in a computer system?

  Physical components of the system
• What is the purpose of software?

  To give instructions to hardware
• What are the types of application software?

  • General purpose software (e.g., word processors)
  • Specialist software (e.g., air traffic control)
  • Bespoke software (tailor-made for specific needs)
• What is the role of system software?

  • Controls computer hardware
  • Manages application software
  • Provides user interface
• What are utility programs?

  Applications that help run the machine
• What are common utility programs?

  • Auto backup and restore
  • Anti-virus
  • Firewall
  • Disk defragmentation
• What is the most important piece of system software?

  The operating system
• What does the operating system manage?

  Hardware and software resources
• How does the OS handle application management?

  It manages interaction with hardware
• How does the OS manage processor resources?

  Allows multiple applications to run simultaneously