Types of software and interrupts

What the syllabus asks of you

• Describe the difference between system • System software provides the services that the software and application software and provide computer requires, including operating system examples of each and utility software • Application software provides the services that the user requires
• Describe the role and basic functions of an • Including: operating system – managing files – handling interrupts – providing an interface – managing peripherals and drivers – managing memory – managing multitasking – providing a platform for running applications – providing system security – managing user accounts Candidates should be able to: Notes and guidance
• Understand how hardware, firmware and • Applications are run on the operating system an operating system are required to run • The operating system is run on the firmware applications software • The bootloader (firmware) is run on the hardware
• Describe the role and operation of interrupts • Including: – how an interrupt is generated – how it is handled using an interrupt service routine – what happens as a result of the interrupts • Software interrupts include division by zero and two processes trying to access the same memory location • Hardware interrupts include pressing a key on the keyboard and moving the mouse