Unit 16: System Software

16.1 Purposes of an Operating System (OS)

1 Show understanding of how an OS can maximise the use of resources

2 Describe the ways in which the user interface hides the complexities of the hardware from the user

3 Show understanding of process management

4 Show understanding of virtual memory, paging and segmentation for memory management

16.2 Translation Software

1 Show understanding of how an interpreter can execute programs without producing a translated version

2 Show understanding of the various stages in the compilation of a program

3 Show understanding of how the grammar of a language can be expressed using syntax diagrams or Backus-Naur Form (BNF) notation

4 Show understanding of how Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) can be used to carry out the evaluation of expressions