Saturday, 6 April 2013

week 3


Software Layers: Operating system, Drivers, System Software, Application programs
                                                            Software layer
 
Operating System
> OS receives order from the user via application program
> It has programs and routines that control all accesses to hardware
> Higher levels are protected from any issues
   - Multiple users
   - Multiple requests for the same resource
   - Access control
> When the OS determines its safe to proceed, direct calls to device drivers are performed


System software
> What is system software?
> Type of system software:
   - Operating  systems
   - Utility programs
> Operating system = a set of programs that coordinates all the activities among computer hardware  resources
> Utility programs = a set of programs that allows a user  ti perform maintenance - type concerning  the computer itself, its devices and its programs
Low - Level  Language
> Two type:
  - Machine Language
  - Assembly Language 
> Machine language = the first generation PL
> Assembly language = the second generation PL
Machine language
> Uses a series of binary digits (1s and 0s) or combination of numbers and letters that represent binary digits
> The binary digits corresponds to the ON and OFF electrical states 
Assembly Language
> Program  is written using symbolic instruction codes called mnemonic 
> Also uses symbolic memory addresses
> Assembly language must be converted into machine language before the computer  can execute the program

Standard Software packages : Overview and typical installation procedures

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