A series of steps designed to solve a mathematical or other problem.
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Instructions
A set of commands that a processor can recognise and act upon.
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Program
A stored set of instructions for a computer to execute.
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Software
The programs that run on a computer.
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Application
Software designed to carry out a useful real-world task.
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Platform
A combination of hardware and operating system that supports the running of particular applications.
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Programming Language
A way of writing instructions for a computer to execute.
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Machine Code
Instructions in binary used by the CPU.
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Low-level Language
A programming language that is directed at running each machine operation.
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High-level Language
A programming language that resembles a natural language. Each instruction translates to many machine instructions.
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Software Engineering
Formal methods to guide the writing of software.
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Interface
The boundary between systems or between systems and humans.
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Compiler
Translation software that converts high-level source code into machine (object) code.
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Interpreter
Translations software that converts source code or user input into machine code which is immediately executed one instruction at a time.
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Linker
Software that combines together a number of separate object code files.
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Debugger
Software that helps a programmer track down faults in a program.
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Operating System
The software that controls the hardware. It acts as an interface between the user and the hardware and also between applications and the hardware.
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Self-booting
The ability of a program to load itself. Some small devices load their applications directly without the need for a conventional operating system.
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Web Server
A server that handles requests to a website.
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Kernel
The lowest level of an operating system that controls the hardware.
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Process
A program currently being executed.
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Command Line
The place where typed commands are given to the operating system.
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User Interface
The boundary between the computer and the user.
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Graphical User Interface (GUI)
A user interface that makes use of icons for interacting with the user.
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Icon
A picture on screen that represents a file, a program or an action.
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Shell
Software that provides a traditional text based interface to an operating system.
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Device Driver
A program that enables communication between a computer and a peripheral.
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Interrupt
A signal to the operating system to stop what it is doing and perform a different task instead.
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Applet
A small application that performs one specific task.
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Embedded System
A computer system that forms part of an electronic device.
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Firmware
Software that is stored permanently in a device, such as control programs for devices.
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Client
Software or hardware that requests services from the server.
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Server
Software that provides services to the client or the hardware that is running it.
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Utility
A small program designed to carry out a limited maintenance task.
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Virus Detection
The process of discovering possibly harmful viruses in a computer system.
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Spyware
Malicious software that detects what a user is doing and sends details back to the originator.
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Trojan
Harmful software that is described as something useful.
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Firewall
Software and/or hardware that limits access to and from a computer system.
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Disk Organisation
The process of arranging files and data bytes on a secondary storage device.
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Defragmenter
A utility that brings together file fragments on a disk and collects all the free space in one area.
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Editor
Software used for entering source code when writing a program.
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Pretty Printing
An editor that automatically sets out program code in an easy to read way.
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Assembly Language
A low-level programming language that uses more memorable mnemonic codes and labels to represent machine-level code. Each instruction corresponds to just one machine operation.
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Assembler
Software that translates assembly language code into machine code.
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Custom Written
Software developed specially for one or a few customers.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
A set of commands that a processor can recognise and act upon.
Back
Instructions
Card 3
Front
A stored set of instructions for a computer to execute.
Back
Card 4
Front
The programs that run on a computer.
Back
Card 5
Front
Software designed to carry out a useful real-world task.
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