Full syllabus

Topic 02 — Software

What this topic covers, what it does not, and how it is assessed.

Scope. The software that runs the machine, the built-in tools that come with it, and the legal terms under which any of it may be used. The topic separates software that serves the computer from software that serves the user, and establishes that a licence — not a purchase — governs what you may legally do.

Prior knowledge assumed. Topic 01: the five components of a computer system, and the standard interface features of applications.

Duration. 2 lessons plus a checkpoint · Weeks 4–6

Content

Lesson 1 — System software

• Software as stored instructions: written by people, replaceable, always licensed
• System software versus application software, and the test that separates them
• The operating system and its functions:
  • memory management — allocating and reclaiming RAM between running programs
  • process management — sharing processor time so several programs run at once
  • file management — tracking where files are stored and who may open them
  • device management — communicating with hardware through drivers
  • the user interface — windows, menus, icons, pointer or touch
  • user accounts and access control
• Types of operating system: desktop, mobile, server
• The boot process in outline: firmware, loading the operating system
• Drivers: what they do, and what happens when one is missing or wrong

• Utility software and what each protects the machine from: antivirus, disk clean-up, drive optimisation, backup, file compression, file manager

• Why updates matter: closing security holes that are already known

Lesson 2 — Windows accessories and software licensing

• The accessories supplied with the operating system, and the job each is designed for: File Explorer, Notepad, Calculator, Paint, Snipping Tool, Media Player, Task Manager, Disk Clean-up, Settings or Control Panel, Character Map

• Choosing a built-in accessory instead of installing new software

• Reading Task Manager to find what is slowing a machine
• Software licensing:
  • proprietary or commercial — paid, closed code, copying forbidden
  • open source — public code, may be studied, changed and shared under its terms
  • freeware — free to use, code closed, limits on commercial use
  • shareware and trial versions — free for a period, then payment or removal
  • subscription — access ends when payment ends, including access to old files
  • site or volume licence — one agreement covering many machines, as in a school
• The end-user licence agreement (EULA): what you agree to and why it is rarely read
• Licence versus ownership: you buy permission to use, not the software itself

• Software piracy: what counts, why free to download is not free to use, and the consequences for the individual and the institution

• Legal and ethical use of software in a school context

Key terminology

software · system software · application software · operating system · multitasking · memory management · process management · file management · device management · driver · utility · firmware · boot · user account · accessory · licence · EULA · proprietary · open source · freeware · shareware · subscription · site licence · piracy · update · patch

Not examinable in this topic

• Programming or writing code in any language

• Detailed operation of any specific application (word processor, spreadsheet) — those are practical work elsewhere in the subject

• Network operating systems and server administration

Assessment

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Checkpoint weighting across the course