✅ A2 SYSTEM SOFTWARE — FULL
EASY GUIDE
⭐ MEMORY TRICK:
“OS P-M-F-S, Translators C-I-L, VM = Shield + Illusion.”
Let’s start.
1. SYSTEM SOFTWARE VS
APPLICATION SOFTWARE
⭐ Memory hook:
System = runs the computer,
Application = helps user do tasks.
🔥 What to remember:
System software: OS, utilities, libraries, drivers, translators.
Application software: Word processor, browser, games, IDE, etc.
📝 Exam focus:
System software “manages hardware + provides platform.”
Application software “allows users to perform tasks.”
2. OPERATING SYSTEM (OS)
⭐ Memory hook:
OS = P M F S
▶ Process management
▶ Memory management
▶ File management
▶ Security
Let’s break them.
2.1 PROCESS MANAGEMENT
⭐ Memory hook:
S-C-S-D → Scheduling, Concurrency, States, Deadlock.
🔥 What to know:
OS allocates CPU time to processes.
Manages ready / running / blocked states.
Scheduling algorithms (high yield!)
Remember “RR, HPF, SJF, SRT”
Round Robin (RR) → fair, time slices.
Highest Priority First (HPF) → favours priority.
Shortest Job First (SJF) → shortest process first.
Shortest Remaining Time (SRT) → pre-emptive, shortest next.
2.2 MEMORY MANAGEMENT
⭐ Memory hook:
P-V-S-PA
Paging
Virtual memory
Segmentation
Page replacement algorithms
🔥 What to know:
Paging
Memory divided into fixed-size pages.
Helps remove fragmentation.
Segmentation
Memory divided into logical segments (code/data/stack).
Varying sizes.
Virtual memory
Using hard disk as RAM extension.
Uses page file / swap file.
Slower (thrashing).
Page replacement
FIFO
LRU
Optimal (theoretical)
2.3 FILE MANAGEMENT
⭐ Memory hook:
C-P-N-A
Create
Permissions
Navigation / directories
Access methods (serial, direct, indexed)
🔥 Key points:
Maintains hierarchical structure.
Provides access rights:
o Read / Write / Execute
o Owner / group / public
Access methods:
Serial → sequential reading
Direct/random → direct jump
Indexed → index table
2.4 SECURITY MANAGEMENT
⭐ Memory hook:
A-A-F
Authentication
Authorisation
Firewalls & protection
🔥 OS security features:
Passwords, biometrics.
Access control lists.
Encryption.
User accounts (admin/user).
3. DEVICE DRIVERS
⭐ Memory hook:
“Translators for hardware.”
🔥 Key points:
Allow OS to communicate with hardware.
Needed because each device works differently.
Usually installed automatically.
4. UTILITIES
⭐ Memory hook:
B-D-C-S
Backup
Disk defragmentation
Compression
Security utilities (anti-virus, firewall)
5. LANGUAGE TRANSLATORS
⭐ Memory hook:
C-I-L
Compiler
Interpreter
Linker/Loader
5.1 COMPILER
⭐ Memory hook:
“Whole → machine code.”
🔥 Key points:
Translates whole program at once.
Produces executable file.
Fast execution after compiling.
Errors shown at end.
5.2 INTERPRETER
⭐ Memory hook:
“Line by line → immediate run.”
🔥 Key points:
Executes line by line.
Slower execution.
Good for debugging.
5.3 ASSEMBLER
⭐ Memory hook:
Assembly → machine code.
For low-level languages.
5.4 LINKER + LOADER
⭐ Memory hook:
Linker = join files
Loader = load into RAM
🔥 Linker:
Combines modules into 1 executable.
🔥 Loader:
Places program + libraries into memory for execution.
6. LIBRARIES
⭐ Memory hook:
“Pre-written, reusable code.”
🔥 Know:
Saves time.
Dynamic linking: linked at run-time
Static linking: linked at compile-time
DLL = Dynamic Link Library
7. VIRTUAL MACHINES (VERY
IMPORTANT)
⭐ Memory hook:
“Shield + Illusion.”
Meaning:
Provides software emulation of a physical computer.
🔥 Why used:
1. Testing multiple OSes
2. Isolation from host system
3. Safety from malware
4. Cross-platform execution (e.g., Java Virtual Machine)
Types of Virtual Machines
⭐ Memory hook:
System VM vs Process VM
System VM
o Full OS inside another OS (VirtualBox, VMware)
Process VM
o Runs a single program (JVM, .NET CLR)
Advantages of VMs
Isolation → safe
Easy backup → snapshots
Multi-OS testing
Better security
Disadvantages
Slower than native
Needs more memory
Requires strong hardware
8. FIRMWARE
⭐ Memory hook:
“Software written into hardware.”
Examples:
BIOS / UEFI
Router firmware
GPU firmware
Functions:
Basic hardware initialization
Start OS from bootloader
9. BOOT PROCESS
⭐ Memory hook:
B-P-L-O
BIOS/UEFI
Power-On Self Test (POST)
Loading bootloader
OS starts
10. EXAM-FOCUSED QUICK
NOTES
🔥 Possible exam questions:
Compare compiler vs interpreter.
Explain virtual memory & paging.
Describe OS role in process management.
Describe scheduling algorithms.
Explain how libraries are used.
Benefits of virtual machines.
Differences between system software & app software.
Role of linkers, loaders, assemblers.