2.

1 Basics: Software
Below are a list of words associated with basic software you will need to provide definitions
of the words and practical examples describing the use of each word. You may need to
research meanings of words you do not know using Google. You can check your answers in
the glossary of Tomorrows Technology and you.

Definitions of the word in an IT context A practical example of the word

Algorithm an algorithm is an effective method
expressed as a finite list of well-defined
instructions for calculating a function
booting Booting is process that starts operating
systems when the user turns on a computer
system.
bug A software bug is the common term used to
describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or
fault in a computer program or system that
produces an incorrect or unexpected result,
or causes it to behave in unintended ways.
Command line A command-line interface (CLI) is a
interface mechanism for interacting with a computer
operating system or software by typing
commands to perform specific tasks.
compatibility Computer Compatibility refers to a situation Most software have compatibility problems
where software that runs on a computer
model can also be run on other models of system especially Microsoft vista
the family.
Computer programs contain algorithms that
specify in a specific order the specific
instructions a computer should perform to
carry out a specified task, such as calculating
employees' paychecks or printing students'
report cards
A cold booting is when you turn the computer
on from an off position. A warm booting is
when you reset a computer that is already on.
Bugs trigger errors that can in turn have a
wide variety of ripple effects, with varying
levels of inconvenience to the user of the
program.
A Command line interface is used whenever a
large vocabulary of commands or queries,
coupled with a wide (or arbitrary) range of
options, can be entered more rapidly as text
than with a pure GUI.
with the new versions of microsoft Operating
 compiler A compiler is a computer program (or set of A compiler requires determining the
programs) that transforms source code correctness of the syntax of programs,
written in a programming language (the generating correct and efficient object code,
source language) into another computer run-time organization, and formatting output
language (the target language, often according to assembler and/or linker
having a binary form known as object conventions.
code).
contract A contract is a legally enforceable We are on a contract with QTEL to provide my
agreement between two or more parties home with fast moving internet service
with mutual obligations.
debugging Debugging is a methodical process of For debugging electronic hardware (e.g.,
finding and reducing the number of bugs, or computer hardware) as well as low-level
defects, in a computer program or a piece software (e.g., BIOSes, device drivers) and
of electronic hardware, thus making it firmware, instruments such as oscilloscopes,
behave as expected. logic analyzers or in-circuit emulators (ICEs)
are often used, alone or in combination.While
debugging computer programs require cross
checking the codes of the program
defragmentation defragmentation is a process that reduces Defragmentation utility can increase my
utility the amount of fragmentation in file computer speed
systems. It does this by physically
organizing the contents of the disk to store
the pieces of each file close together and
contiguously
device drivers a device driver is a computer program Formating a system removes all the device
allowing higher-level computer programs to drivers that should enable the peripherial
interact with a hardware device devices to operate
EULA Short for End-User License Agreement, the most EULA(s) of proprietary software prohibit
type of license used for most software. An the user from sharing the software with
EULA is a legal contract between the anyone else
manufacturer and/or the author and the
end user of an application.
Formatting formatting is the process for preparing a By formatting my computer,I will loss
hard disk drive or other storage medium for previously stored information.
its use by an operating system (OS), usually
including the setting up an empty file
system
 gui a graphical user interface is a type of user Commands are issued in the GUI by using a
interface that allows users to interact with mouse, trackball or touchpad to first move a
electronic devices with images rather than pointer on the screen to, or on top of, the icon,
text commands. menu item or window of interest in order to
select that object.
high level A high-level programming language is a FORTRAN is an example of high level language
language programming language with strong used in Engineering
abstraction from the details of the
computer.
multitasking Multitasking is the ability to execute more Multitasking in computers enables me to listen
than one task at the same time, a task to music and type document at the same time
being a program on the same computer
open source are computer software that are available in My Chess program is an open source software
software source code form for which the source code from the internet
and certain other rights normally reserved
for copyright holders are provided under a
software license that permits users to
study, change, improve and at times also to
distribute the software.
operating system An operating system (OS) is software, My computer's operating system is microsoft
consisting of programs and data, that runs windows XP,other operating systems are
on computers and manages computer Microsoft Vista,Linux etc
hardware resources and provides common
services for efficient execution of various
application software.
root directory the root directory is the first or top-most Click on any of the drives to display the files in
directory in a hierarchy. It can be likened to the root directory for that hard drive.
the root of a tree — the starting point where
all branches originate.
shareware shareware refers to proprietary software I download a CS4 shareware which has a trial
that is provided to users without payment period of 60 days and I am restricted from
on a trial basis and is often limited by any storing in some formats
combination of functionality, availability or
convenience.
UNIX Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer Unix operating systems are widely used in
operating system servers, workstations, and mobile devices.
 compatible Able to be used with a specified piece of My printer is fully compatible with all leading
equipment or software without special software
adaptation or modification
update Update refers to improving the version of a This excel file is an update version of my
software or information to meet the current assignment,it contains the answers to the
version questions
upgrade upgrade refers to the replacement of a Microsoft office 2010 is an upgrade of
product with a newer version of the same microsoft office 2007
product.
utility program Utility program is a kind of system software utility software usually focuses on how the
designed to help analyze, configure, computer infrastructure (including the
optimize and maintain the computer. computer hardware, operating system,
application software and data storage)
operates.
virtual memory Virtual memory are imaginary memory area Graphic cards increases the virtual memory of
supported by some operating systems in a computer.
conjunction with the hardware.
system software System software is computer software The System software is stored in the read only
designed to operate the computer hardware memory (ROM)
and to provide maintain a platform for
running application software.
public domain Public domain software is software that has Pubic domain software can easily be
software been placed in the public domain, in other downloaded from the internet without charges
words there is absolutely no ownership
(such as copyright) of the intellectual
property that the software represents
safe mode Safe mode is a diagnostic mode of a Safe mode is intended to fix most, if not all
computer operating system (OS). It can also problems within an operating system.To
refer to a mode of operation by application access the safe mode a particular key on the
software. keyboard is held just as the computer is about
Linux Linux refers to the family of Unix-like to boot
Linux can be installed on a wide variety of
computer operating systems using the computer hardware, ranging from mobile
Linux kernel. phones, tablet computers and video game
consoles, to mainframes and supercomputers.
pathname Pathname is a name that specifies a unique Files can easily be located if the pathname is
location in a file system. known e.g C:\Documents and
Settings\Chiweike\Desktop
patent A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted Many software patent holders license their
by a state (or national government) to an patents in exchange for monetary royalties.
inventor or their assignee for a limited
period of time in exchange for a public
disclosure of an invention.