A

FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
IGCSE CS
Software
 D
Definition of a Software

14 IH
97 A
9
A set of instructions written in a programming

54 SH
language that performs one or more tasks to

34 N
tell the computer what to do.

03 A
H
FS
A
 D
Classification of Software

14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
System Software Application Software

34 N
H03 A
FS
A
 System Software

Definition Example

D
• Basic Input Output System (BIOS) - installed
A variety of programs that a

14 I
in ROM. Enables all of the attached

H
computer needs to function. components to initialise. Known as firmware.

97 A
9
• Operating System - MAC, Windows, Android,

54 SH
iOS.
Function
• Device Driver (Part of the OS or Installed

34 N
• Allows software and manually) - A software that enables

03 A
hardwares to communicate with the
hardware to run without

H
operating system (Plug and play).
problems.
FS
• Compilers - Translate high-level
• Provides a human computer
programming language into machine code.
A
interface. • Utilities Software - Built into the operating
• Control the allocation and system to carry out a specific task.
usage of hardware resources.
Examples of utilities software (1)

• Offered by the operating system

• Must be constantly updated

D
Virus Checker - Anti Virus Software • How they work

14 IH
⚬ The software is constantly

97 A
running in the background

9
54 SH
⚬ Check software of files before
they are run or loaded

34 N
⚬ Compare a possible virus

03 A
against a database of known

H
FS viruses
⚬ Any possible files or
programs which are infected
A

are put into quarantine

Examples of utilities software (2)

Defragmentation Software - When HDD becomes full, blocks used for files will

D
be scattered all over the disk surface. Data accessing will be faster if files could

14 I
be stored in contiguous sectors to reduce HDD head movements.

H
97 A
9
54 SH
data data data

34 N
data

H03 A
data data FS
A
Examples of utilities software (3)

• Software that communicate

D
Device Driver with the OS and translate

14 IH
data into a format

97 A
understood by a hardware

9
54 SH
device (middle man)
• Without device drivers, a
hardware device would be

34 N
unable to work with a

03 A
computer

H
FS • As soon as a device is
plugged into a USB port, the
A
OS looks for appropriate
device driver
Examples of utilities software (4)

• It is a good practice to use the operating

D
system back-up utility
Backup Software

14 I
• Allow a schedule for backing up files to be

H
made

97 A
9
54 SH
• Total security
⚬ Working version stored in SSD/HDD

34 N
⚬ Locally backup stored in removable

03 A
SSD/HDD

H
FS ⚬ Cloud Storage
• OS
A
⚬ Windows - File History
⚬ MacOS - TimeMachine
 Application Software

Definition Examples

D
Software that a user needs • Word Processor

14 IH
to make use of the • Spreadsheet

97 A
9
computer system • Database

54 SH
• Video Editing Software
Features • Apps

34 N
• Music and video

03 A
• Used to perform various

H
applications (apps) on a FS streaming
computer • GPS
• Allows a user to perform • Camera facility
A

specific tasks using the

computer’s resources
 Classification of Software

D
System Software - The Application Software -

14 I
Manager The Independent

H
97 A
9
54 SH
Responsible for managing the Allows the user to perform
hardware and other software in a different tasks using the
computer

34 N
computer

H 03 A
Eg. BIOS, OS, Device Driver,
FS Eg. Word Document, Spreadsheet,
Utilities Video Editing Software, Games
A
Chapter 4.2

Operating
System

D
14 IH
97 A
9
IGCSE Computer Science

54 SH
34 N
03 A
H
FS
A
About the Operating System
• It is a system software

D
• OS has the privilege of managing other

14 IH
programs

97 A
9
• It is the first program to be launched (by

54 SH
the BIOS) when a computer is turned on
• OS is an intermediaries between software

34 N
programs and hardware peripherals

03 A
(Driver)
H
• Stored within the SSD/HDD, loaded into
FS
RAM when a particular action needs to be
A

carried out
Main function of the operating system

D
Enable computer system to function correctly

14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
Allow users to communicate with computer
systems

34 N
H03 A
FS
A
 7 Main Functions Of
The Operating System

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
34 N
03 A
H
FS
A
HCI

Human computer interface

D
The OS provides an interface which allow the user to communicate with

14 IH
the computer.

97 A
9
3 types of HCI

54 SH
34 N
Command Line Graphical User Voice Command

03 A
Interface Interface Interface

H
• User needs to learn a
FS • Interaction using • Smart Speaker (Google
number of commands pictures of symbol Home and Amazon
• Direct communication (instead of command) Alexa)
A
with the computer and • WIMP (Windows Icon • Virtual Assistant (Siri)
is not restricted to a Menu and Pointing
number of Device)
predetermined options • Phones touch screen
(pinch and rotate)
HCI

Compare and Contrast CLI and GUI

D
14 IH
Command Line Graphical User

97 A
Interface Interface

9
54 SH
• The user is in direct communication with the • It is more user-friendly; icons are used to
computer represent applications

34 N
• Uses a small amount of computer memory • The user doesn’t need to learn any

03 A
commands

H
• Need to learn a lot of commands • Use up more computer memory than CLI
FS
• Each command must be typed in correctly in • The user is limited to icons provided on the
A
terms of format and spelling screen
HCI MM

Memory Management

D
14 IH
VON NEUMANN ARCHITECTURE CONTROL BUS

DATA BUS

97 A
ADDRESS BUS

9
Central Processing Unit (CPU)

When a program is

54 SH
MAR
CU

needed, its code will

PC

34 N
MDR

be loaded from the

CIR

03 A
ALU ACC

Secondary Storage
H
FS
into the Primary RAM,
Input Memory Unit (RAM) Output
A
Load executable code
when needed but who does it????
Secondary Storage
(HDD, SSD, Removable Disk, CD)
HCI MM

Memory Management

D
14 IH
VON NEUMANN ARCHITECTURE CONTROL BUS

DATA BUS OS does it! OS will...

97 A
ADDRESS BUS

9
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• Track of all the memory locations

54 SH
CU
MAR
• Carries out memory protection to
ensure that two competing
PC

34 N
MDR

CIR applications cannot use the same

03 A
ALU ACC
memory locations at the same

H
time
• Make sure enough hardware is
Input
FS
Memory Unit (RAM) Output
allocated to perform the necessary
A
process
Load executable code
when needed

Secondary Storage
(HDD, SSD, Removable Disk, CD)
HCI MM MT

Multitasking - allows the computer to

D
carry out more than 1 task at a time

14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
Pre-emptive multitasking

• Resources are allocated to a process for a

34 N
Sharing hardware resources
specific time limit

03 A
• Each of the processes will share the • The process can be interrupted while it is

H
hardware resources under the control
running
FS
of the operating system software.
• The process is given a priority so it can have
A
resources according to its priority (the risk
here is that a low priority process could be
starved of resources)
HCI MM MT HPM

Hardware Peripheral
Management

D
14 IH
Meaning of peripheral devices Roles of the OS: Carry out Hardware Management

97 A
9
54 SH
• Use device driver
⚬ Communicates with all input and
output devices

34 N
⚬ Take data from a file (defined by the

03 A
operating system) and translates it into

H
FS a format that the input/output device
can understand
A
• Ensures each hardware resource has a
priority so that they can be used and
released as required
HCI MM MT HPM UAM

User Account
Management

D
14 IH
A computer can have more than one user to

97 A
9
log into the account. Eg.

54 SH
It is therefore
important that users’

34 N
data is stored in

03 A
separate parts of the

H
FS memory for security
reasons.
A
HCI MM MT HPM UAM

User Account
Management

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
Role of an administrator

• Oversees the management of these user

34 N
accounts

03 A
• The administrator can create accounts, delete

H
user accounts and restrict user account
FS
activity (create, edit and delete file)
A
HCI MM MT HPM UAM FM

File management

D
14 IH
Main tasks of file management include:

97 A
9
• file naming conventions which can be used

54 SH
i.e. filename.docx (where the extension can
be .bat, .htm, .dbf, .txt, .xls, etc.)

34 N
• performing specific tasks (for example, create,

03 A
open, close, delete, rename, copy, and move)

H
• maintaining the directory structures
FS
• ensuring memory allocation for a file by
A
reading it from the HDD/SSD and loading it
into memory.
HCI MM MT HPM UAM FM SEC

Security Management
- covered more in depth in chapter 5

D
14 IH
Main tasks of security management include:

97 A
9
54 SH
• Ensures that anti virus software (and other security software) is always up to
date, preserving the integrity, security and privacy of data

34 N
• Maintains access rights for all users

03 A
• Communicates with a firewall to check all traffic to and from the computer

H
• By offering the ability for the recovery of data when it has been lost or
FS
corrupted (eg. Apple Time Machine)
A
Human Computer Interface

Memory Management

D
7 Main

14 IH
Multitasking

97 A
Functions Of

9
54 SH
Hardware Peripheral Management
The Operating

34 N
User Account Management System

H03 A
File Management FS
A

Security Management
Human Computer Interface

Memory Management

D
14 IH
Multitasking

97 A
9
7 functions of the OS:

54 SH
Hardware Peripheral Management
HMM, How U Feeling Son?

34 N
User Account Management

H03 A
File Management FS
A

Security Management
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
 D
14 I
Chapter 4.3

H
97 A
9
54 SH
Running of

34 N
Application
03 A
H
FS
A
Introducing BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
• Known as firmware (a tangible
electronic component with
embedded software

D
instructions, such as a BIOS)

14 IH
• The BIOS settings are stored on

97 A
9
a CMOS chip (complementary

54 SH
metal-oxide-semiconductor)
⚬ BIOS settings would be reset

34 N
if the battery was removed or

03 A
disconnected

H
FS • Responsible for booting up the
computer by loading part of the
A
operating system from
secondary storage into RAM
Application Software Running Sequence

Bios checks if every

Power On hardware is Operating System

D
14 I
working fine takes over

H
97 A
9
54 SH
Firmware Operating Application
Hardware
(BIOS) System Software

34 N
H03 A
Loads the
FS BIOS
BIOS loads the
A

program operating
located in system
the ROM
 D
14 IH
Chapter 4.4: Software

97 A
INTERRUPT

9
54 SH
34 N
03 A
H
FS IGCSE CS
A
DEFINITION OF
INTERRUPT

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
AN INTERRUPT IS WHERE A SIGNAL IS SENT FROM A

34 N
DEVICE OR A PROGRAM TO THE OPERATING SYSTEM

03 A
THAT CAUSES A TEMPERORY STOP.

H
FS
A
EXAMPLES OF AN INTERRUPT :
YOU TRY

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
Try to create two Try to perform

34 N
03 A
folders that have 5/0 in your

H
the same name
FS calculator
A
OTHER EXAMPLES OF AN
INTERRUPT

D
14 IH
A hardware fault Software error

97 A
9
(Printer out of

54 SH
ink, paper jam)

34 N
03 A
H
FS
A

A timing signal
FUNCTION OF AN INTERRUPT

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
CAUSE THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO TEMPERORILY

34 N
STOP WHAT IT IS DOING SO THAT THE OS CAN

03 A
SERVICE THE INTERRUPT

H
FS
A
 FLOW

D
14 IH
97 A
9
Part of the Interrupt

54 SH
Service Routine
Upon completing a fetch-
The interrupt The interrupt decode-execute cycle, the
is collected CPU checks the priority of

34 N
Device sends is being
XX by an the next interrupt to see if it
an interrupt assigned a

03 A
has a higher priority than
signal interrupt place in a
the current task being

H
handler
FS queue processed.

Yes, the interrupt has

Before After
A
higher priority
1 I1 1 XX
Eg.Divide by 0, keyboard key The CPU stops what
pressed, printer error, mouse 2 I2 2 I1 it is doing and
movement fetches the
3 3 I2 interrupt to the CPU
to be processed
Priority is decided by the Operating System
 FLOW

D
14 IH
97 A
9
Part of the Interrupt

54 SH
Service Routine
Upon completing a fetch-
The interrupt The interrupt decode-execute cycle, the
CPU checks the priority of

34 N
Device sends is collected is being
XX the next interrupt to see if it
an interrupt by an assigned a

03 A
has a higher priority than
signal interrupt place in a
the current task being

H
handler queue processed.
FS
No, it has lower
Before After
A
priority
1 I1 1 XX
Eg.Divide by 0, keyboard key It leaves the
pressed, printer error, mouse 2 I2 2 I1 interrupt in the
interrupt queue and
movement
3 3 I2 carries on
processing
Priority is decided by the Operating System
 FLOW

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
Part of the Interrupt
Service Routine
Upon completing a fetch-
The interrupt The interrupt decode-execute cycle, the
CPU checks the priority of
Device sends is collected is being

34 N
XX
an interrupt by an assigned a
the next interrupt to see if it
has a higher priority than
The process happens so quickly that it is impossible
signal interrupt place in a
the current task being
handler queue
for the user to notice that the operating system has

03 A
processed.

Before After
Yes, the interrupt has No, it has lower
been interrupted temperorily.

H
higher priority priority
1 I1 1 XX
Eg.Divide by 0, keyboard key The CPU stops what It leaves the
pressed, printer error, mouse 2 I2 2 I1 FS it is doing and interrupt in the
movement fetches the interrupt interrupt queue and
3 3 I2 to the CPU to be carries on
processed processing
Priority is decided by the Operating System
A

Interrupts allow computers to

carry out many tasks or to have
several windows open at the same
time
Software Interrupt Hardware Interrupt

• Division by • Press of a

D
14 I
zero key on a

H
97 A
• Processes keyboard

9
54 SH
attempt to • click of a

34 N
access the mouse

03 A
same button
H
FS
memory
A

location
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
Chapter 4.4

D
TYPES OF PROGRAMMING

14 IH
97 A
LANGUAGES

9
54 SH
IGCSE Computer Science

34 N
H03 A
FS assembly language
A
RECAP

Definition of a Software

D
14 IH
A set of instructions written in a programming

97 A
9
language that performs one or more tasks to

54 SH
tell the computer what to do.

34 N
03 A
H
FS
A
Codes written in any language needs to be translated to machine code before it can be understood by a
computer.

D
Programming Languages Machine Code

14 IH
97 A
9
0101010100101001001001

54 SH
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010

34 N
Translators 0101010100101001001001

03 A
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010

H
FS 10101010100101010101010
0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001
A
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010
 Why does programmers have to code using programming
language instead of machine code

D
Programming Languages Machine Code

14 IH
97 A
9
0101010100101001001001

54 SH
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010

34 N
0101010100101001001001

03 A
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010

H
FS 10101010100101010101010
0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001
A
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010
High-Level Programming Languages

D
• Contains English-like words and

14 IH
terms that we use in communication
and are easier for programmers to

97 A
9
understand

54 SH
• Enable a programmer to focus on the
problem to be solved and require no

34 N
knowledge of the hardware and

03 A
instruction set of the computer that

H
FS will use the program.
A
Lets try to create 2 mini software (Very
mini) in Python

D
• Ask a user for his/her name, then,

14 I
print out a message to greet the user

H
97 A
(eg. Hello, XXX)

9
54 SH
• Ask a user for 2 numbers (integers),
then, print out the result of the first

34 N
number minus the second number.

H03 A
FS
A
 Low-Level Programming Languages (1)

D
Machine Code

14 IH
0101010100101001001001

97 A
9
0101010100100101001001

54 SH
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010
0101010100101001001001 It is impossible to code in

34 N
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010 machine code

03 A
10101010100101010101010

H
0101010100101001001001
FS
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
A
10101010100101010101010
 Low-Level Programming Languages (2)

D
14 IH
Assembly Language (eg. MIPS) Illustration of how it works

97 A
9
54 SH
a0 2
a1 3

34 N
03 A
t0

H
FS
A
 Low-Level Programming Languages (2)

D
14 IH
Assembly Language (eg. MIPS) Properties of assembly language

97 A
• A type of programming

9
54 SH
that sits just above
machine code and is low-
level language that use

34 N
mnemonics for its

03 A
instructions and
commands.

H
FS • Mnemonic
⚬ LW - Load Word
⚬ INP - Input
A
⚬ RET - Return
MEMORISE A FEW !
 Low-Level Programming Languages (2)

D
14 IH
Assembly Language (eg. MIPS) Why we use assembly language

97 A
9
54 SH
• To make use of special
hardware
• Write code that doesn’t

34 N
take up much space in

03 A
primary memory
• Write code that performs a

H
FS task very quickly
A
 0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010
0101010100101001001001

Easier to debug Debug Harder to debug 0101010100100101001001

10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010
0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010

D
14 I
Hardware Able to directly mainpulate
Inefficient in hardware usage

H
computer hardware

97 A
9
54 SH
Easier to read and write by More challenging to read and
Ease write codes
programmers

34 N
H 03 A
Takes up a little space in the
Takes up a lot of memory due Memory
FS primary memory
to layers of abstraction
A

Execution time Execution time

Speed is faster
is slower

Differences between high-level and low-level programming languages

A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
 D
14 IH
Chapter 4.5

97 A
TRANSLATOR

9
54 SH
34 N
IGCSE CS

03 A
H
FS
A
Programming Languages Machine Code

D
14 IH
0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001

97 A
10101010001011010101010

9
54 SH
10101010100101010101010
Translators 0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001

34 N
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010

03 A
0101010100101001001001

H
FS 0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010
A
 Different programming
languages need a different
translator to be converted
into machine code

Machine Code

D
14 IH
0101010100101001001001
0101010100100101001001

97 A
10101010001011010101010

9
10101010100101010101010

54 SH
0101010100101001001001
Translators 0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010
10101010100101010101010

34 N
0101010100101001001001

03 A
0101010100100101001001
10101010001011010101010

H
10101010100101010101010
FS
A

Our Focus This

Week
Translators 3 types of translator

• Interpreter (Python)

D
• Compiler (C)

14 I
• Assembler (Assembly Language)

H
97 A
9
54 SH
Main functions

34 N
• Translate codes written in various programming

03 A
languages to binary.

H
• Report errors in the code to the programmer.
FS
A
Interpreter
• Interpret the code line by line in a program
• Interpreter stop the execution of the code when it

D
detects an error (Compiler waits until the end of the

14 IH
execution process before reporting errors)

97 A
9
54 SH
• Will not produce an executable file at the end of the
process

34 N
03 A
H
FS
A

Python Javascript
Interpreter

D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
34 N
Python

H03 A
FS
A

Code is interpreted line by line

Compiler
• Translates an entire program written in a high- level language (HLL) into
machine code all in one go so that it can be directly used by a computer to

D
perform a required task. An executable file will be produced

14 I
• A report of errors is produced at the end of the translation

H
• Once a program is compiled the machine code can be used again and again

97 A
9
54 SH
to perform the same task without re-compilation

34 N
Compile

H 03 A
FS
A

Running the
compiled code
C Programming Language
Assembler
• Translate a program written in an assembly language into machine code

D
• Once a program is assembled the machine code can be used again and again

14 I
to perform the same task without re-assembly.

H
97 A
9
54 SH
34 N
H03 A
FS Assembler
A
Compare and contrast the 3 translators

D
Compile Interprete Assemble

14 IH
r r r

97 A
9
Does not produce executable Produce executable

54 SH
Produce executable
file file file

Translate high-level Execute a high level Translate low-level

34 N
programming language programming language programming language

03 A
into machine code one line at a time into machine code

H
FS
Compiled program is run Interpreted program Assembled program is run
without the compiler cannot run without the without the assembler
A

interpreter
Interpreter Compiler
Easier for beginners as errors are A compiled program is

D
easily identified executed in a shorter time

14 IH
Easier and quicker to debug and

97 A
9
test programs during

54 SH
It takes a longer time to
development
write, test and debug

34 N
programs during
development

03 A
Programs can take longer to

H
execute FS
A
 D
14 IH
97 A
9
54 SH
Integrated

34 N
03 A
Development
H Environment (IDE)
FS
A
Integrated Development
Environment (IDE)
• An IDE is an application that

D
programmers use to test

14 IH
and develop new software

97 A
9
• An IDE allows a programmer

54 SH
to write code in various

34 N
programming language and

03 A
smulate the running of the

H
code
FS
• Eg. PythonIDE, Sublime
A

Text, Visual Studio Code,

Pycharm
 7 features of an IDE

D
14 I
Auto

H
Code Run-time
completion Translator

97 A
Editor Environment

9
- common - compiler,

54 SH
- contains - with
function interpreter
shell debugger
/syntax

34 N
03 A
Prettyprint Error

H
Auto
Correction - colour Diagnostic
FS
- bracket scheme, - pinpoints
A
matching indentation error
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION
A
FS
03 AH
34 N
54 SH
97 A
14 IH
9 D
EXAM QUESTION