A-level Computing/AQA/Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and the Internet/Fundamentals of Computer Systems

From the Specification : Hardware and Software Understand the relationship between hardware and software and be able to define both.

From the Specification : Classification of Software Be aware of how software is classified. Be able to explain what is meant by system software and application software. Understand the need for and attributes of different types of software

From the Specification : System Software Understand the need for, and functions of, system software: Operating system software Utility programs Library programs Translator software (compiler, assembler, interpreter)

From the Specification : Application Software Describe the different types of application software and the criteria for selecting appropriate software for particular purposes. General purpose application software. Special purpose application software. Bespoke application software

From the Specification : Generations of Programming Language Describe machine-code language and assembly language. Awareness of the development of programming languages and the limitations of both machine-code and assembly-language programming First generation - Machine code Second generation - Assembly language Third generation - Imperative high level language Explain the term imperative high level language and its relationship to first and second generation languages Fourth generation - Declarative language Explain the term declarative programming language and where and why declarative languages are used

From the Specification : Types of Program Translator Define each type of language translator and describe situations where each would be appropriate. Assembler Compiler Interpreter