1.5 Systems software

Operating System

Software that acts as an interface between the applications and the hardware, the most important type of Systems Software

Peripheral manager

Operating system function that manages input and output between the computer and attached devices

Memory Manager

The function of the OS that manages the computer's memory, allocating it to processes as necessary

Process Manager

The OS function that manages the computer's processors by scheduling which processes are to be executed and in which order.

User interface

Function of an OS that allows users to interact with the computer, can just be a command line or could be graphical

Multitasking

An operating system function that allows more than one application to run at a time by slicing up the CPU's time and sharing it out

File Manager

Operating system function that saves and retrieves files on behalf of the applications. Usually provides a folder structure plus move, rename and search options

User manager

OS function that allocates user accounts, provides a login process, checks passwords and manages access rights

Window

Feature of a graphical user interface that displays applications within boxes which can be moved, opened and closed

Pointer

An on-screen arrow that shows the current position of the mouse, sometimes called a cursor, in a graphical user interface

Driver

A small piece of system software that instructs the operating system how to operate a peripheral device like a printer or scanner

Time slice

The amount of time a process is given in the CPU in a multitasking operating system

RAM

The OS must reserve some of this, then copy a program from secondary storage into here so that it can start running

Virtual memory

The OS's memory manager function will move processes here when primary memory (RAM) is full, it's a reserved space on the secondary storage device (HDD or SSD)

GUI

A Graphical User Interface, such as Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, it provides a user-friendly way of interacting with the computer

CLI

The user interacts with the OS through typing commands in this, a command line interface. MS-DOS and early Unix had one. Network switches often have them

Buffer

An area of memory used for holding data waiting to be moved somewhere else. A printer driver holds data in one while waiting for the printer

Access rights

The permissions granted to users to run programs, change settings, open files or edit files and folders. These are managed by the User Manager feature of the OS

Account

A user profile that allows someone to sign in, this is created and managed by the User Manager function of the OS

Folders

All Operating Systems manage a hierarchy of these, they are where you store your files

Assembly Language

A low-level language which uses mnemonics to replicate the instructions which can be completed by a process.

Software

Any programs which run on a computer, they come in two main types: application and system

Applications

Software which allows the user to complete a specific task, such as browse the internet or write a letter

Systems Software

Software that runs the computer system. Includes the OS and utilities but not applications

Utilities

Programs which analyse and maintain a computer system, keeping it healthy so the applications can run smoothly

Encryption

A utility program might provide this service which protects the contents of files by scrambling them

Defragmentation

Utility software which reorganises fragmented files and put all their segments back together to speed up the system

Compression

Utility software which reduces the size of files by running an algorithm to remove or reorganise data

Storage

This is where we save our data and it is limited so we might need a compression utility to make the most of it

Fragmented

When files get bigger they need more space, but this might be on another part of the disk, so the files get like this. We run the "defrag" utility to fix this

Stolen

If a laptop is __________ your sensitive data is safe as long as it was encrypted using an encryption utility program

A computer might run ______ if the disk is too fragmented, so you should run a defragmentation utility program

Slow

Housekeeping

Any utilities that keep the computer's "house in order": defragging, backups, cleaning up unused files. Often installed with the OS but can be downloaded or purchased separately