Software Classification Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is software?

A type of hardware

A storage device

Consists of sequences of instructions called programs (correct)

An operating system

What are utility programs designed for?

To perform a specific task related to working with computers.

What does an assembler do?

Translates assembly language programs into machine code.

What is the role of a compiler?

Translates high level language code into object code. Signup and view all the answers

Define object code.

A sequence of statements or instructions in a machine code language. Signup and view all the answers

What is an interpreter?

Analyzes and executes a high-level language program line by line. Signup and view all the answers

What is bespoke software?

Software written for a customer's specific need. Signup and view all the answers

What is general-purpose software?

Software that can be used for many different tasks. Signup and view all the answers

What does special purpose software support?

One specific task. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first generation language?

Machine code. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes second generation languages?

They use mnemonics instead of numbers. Signup and view all the answers

Define third generation languages.

Problem-oriented languages developed since the 1950s. Signup and view all the answers

What are fourth generation languages known for?

Declarative programming languages. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Software Definitions and Types

Software comprises sequences of instructions (programs) that hardware can understand and execute.
Utility programs perform specific tasks related to computer operations, such as compressing files or formatting disks.
Bespoke software is custom-developed to meet a specific customer's needs, ensuring tailored functionality.
General purpose software is versatile and can be used for various tasks, appealing to a broad audience.
Special purpose software is designed for a single task, offering focused solutions.

Software Translation Methods

Assemblers translate assembly language programs into machine code, converting each mnemonic instruction to its binary equivalent.
Compilers convert high-level language code into object code, analyzing the entire codebase for optimization, resulting in faster execution compared to interpreted code.
Object code consists of statements or instructions in a machine language, ready for execution by the computer.
Interpreters analyze and execute high-level language programs line by line, leading to slower execution without generating object code, necessitating recompilation for each run.

Generations of Programming Languages

First generation languages (machine code) consist solely of binary (0's and 1's), making them tedious for manual programming.
Second generation languages (assembly language) retain the structure of machine language but use mnemonics for easier writing, optimizing speed for execution and direct register addressing.
Third generation languages (problem-oriented) allow one statement to represent multiple machine instructions, providing a more abstract and user-friendly programming experience since the 1950s.
Fourth generation languages (declarative) define what needs to be computed rather than detailing the process, such as Prolog and SQL, allowing users to declare facts for algorithmic processing.

Description

Test your knowledge on key software concepts with these flashcards. Discover terms like 'Software', 'Utility Programs', and 'Assembler'. This quiz is perfect for students learning about computer science and software engineering.