Computer Systems and Programming Basics

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Questions and Answers

What is the main difference between a 32-bit computer system and a 64-bit computer system?

The main difference is the number of bits used to represent memory addresses, with 32-bit systems using 32 bits and 64-bit systems using 64 bits.

What is the primary function of application software?

To perform specific tasks or provide services to users.

What is an array in programming?

An indexed set of related elements, where all elements have a numeric index and are of the same data type.

What is the purpose of character encoding?

To allow a computer program to interpret binary digits (0s and 1s) into meaningful units representing characters and numbers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the camel case naming convention in programming?

It is a naming convention where each word or abbreviation in a phrase, except the first word, begins with a capital letter, with no spaces or punctuation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central processing unit (CPU) responsible for in a digital system?

Handling most of a system's data manipulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a compiler in object-oriented programming languages?

A compiler turns source code into machine language that can be executed by a computer processor. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue that arises when two different input values to a hashing function output the same hash value?

Collision Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of communication hardware in digital systems?

To transmit data between computers and networked devices Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between a complex instruction set computing (CISC) and a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor design?

CISC contains large sets of computer instructions to compute complex instructions efficiently Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a debugger in software development?

To identify errors in computer software Signup and view all the answers

What is the key characteristic of a dependent task in project management?

A task that requires one or more other tasks to have been completed in order to begin Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between a deque and a queue data structure?

A deque allows removal and return of values from both the start and end Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a graphical user interface (GUI) in software development?

To allow users to interact with an application or piece of software Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Systems

A 32-bit computer system has 32 bits of memory addresses, while a 64-bit computer system has 64 bits of memory addresses.

Software

Application software is used to perform work or complete larger tasks, examples include Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop, and Mozilla Firefox.
A browser is a type of application software.

Data Types

A Boolean is a logical data type that can hold one of only two possible values, true or false.
A character is a data type representing a single letter, number, symbol, punctuation mark, or space.

Data Structures

An array is an indexed set of related elements, all of the same data type.
An associative array (also called a dictionary or map) is a collection of (key, value) pairs where each key is unique in the collection.

Hardware

The central processing unit (CPU) is the 'brain' of a digital system, handling most of a system's data manipulation.
Communication hardware transmits data between computers and networked devices.
A graphics processor unit (GPU) is a fast and expensive processor specifically designed for high-speed image processing in graphics cards.

Programming Concepts

Camel case is a naming convention used in programming, where each word or abbreviation in a phrase (after the first word) begins with a capital letter, without spaces or punctuation.
A class is a program code template for creating objects in object-oriented programming languages.
A compiler is a program that turns source code into machine language that can be executed by a computer processor.
A debugger is a tool used to identify errors in computer software.

Other Concepts

A constraint is a restriction on what can and cannot occur in the creation of a software solution, external to the solution itself.
An economic constraint is a constraint on the creation of a software solution that relates to time or budget, or both.
A Gantt chart is a project management tool for displaying project schedule information.

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Description

Get familiar with the basics of computer systems, including 32-bit and 64-bit systems, application software, browsers, and programming concepts like arrays and associative arrays.