Term | Definition |
application software | computer software developed to support a specific user requirement, contrast with system software |
application-specific software | any application software that can be used for only one purpose, such as an accounting system |
assembly language | a programming language in which there is a one-for-one correspondence between the computer's machine language and the symbolic instruction set of the language |
auxiliary (secondary) storage | any storage device outside main memory; permanent data storage; external storage |
blackbox testing | testing based on the system requirements rather than a knowledge of the program, contrast with whitebox testing |
central processing unit (CPU) | the part of a computer that contains the control components - that is, the part that interprets instructions. in a per-unit and an arithmetic-logical unit |
client | in a client/server network, the computer that provides the basic application computing; the computer residing in the user's physical area |
client/server | a computer system design in which two seperate computers control the processing of the application, one providing the basic application computing (the client) and the other providing auxiliary services, such as database access (the server) |
compilation | the process used to convert a source program into machine language |
compiler | system software that converts a source program into executable object code; traditionally associated with high-level languages |
computer language | any of the syntactical languages used to write programs for computers, such as machine language, assembly language, C, COBOL and FORTRAN |
computer system | the set of computer hardware and software that make it possible to use a computer |
distributed environment | an environment that provides a seamless integration of computing functions between servers and clients |
executable file | a file that contains program code in its executable form; the result of linking the source code object module with any required library module |
flowchart | a program design tool in which standard graphical symbols are used to represent the logical flow of data through a function |
general-purpose software | software, such as a spreadsheet, that can be used in multiple applications |
hard copy | any computer output that is written to paper or other readable mediums such as microfiche, contrast with soft copy |
hardware | any of the physical components of a computer system, such as the keyboard or a printer |
high-level language | a portable programming language designed to allow the programmer to concentrate on the application rather than the structure of a particular computer or operating system |
input device | a device that provides data to be read by a program |
linker | the program creation process in which an object module is joined with precompiled functions to form an executable program |
loader | the operating system function that fetches an executable program into memory for running |
machine language | the instructions native to the central processor of a computer and that are executable without assembly or compilation |
main memory | consisting of random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM); used to store data and program instructions |
object module | the output of a compilation consisting of machine language instructions |
operating system | the software that controls the computing environment and provides an interface to the user |
output device | a device that can be written but not read |
personal computer (PC) | a computer designed for individual use |
preprocessor | the first phase of a C compilation in which the source statements are prepared for compilation and any necessary libraries are loaded |
preprocessor directives | commands to the C precompiler |
primary storage | the volatile (RAM) memory of a computer |
program development | a file that contains an executable program |
psuedocode | english-like statements that follow a function that provides the return type and formal parameter types |
server | in a client/server system, the centralized computer that provides auxiliary services |
soft copy | computer output written to a nonpermanent display such as a monitor, contrast with hard copy |
software | the application and system programs necessary for computer hardware to accomplish a task including their documentation and any required procedures |
source file | the file that contains program statements written by a programmer before they are converted into machine language; the input file to an assembler or compiler |
structure chart | a design and documentation tool that represents a program as a hierarchical flow of functions |
symbolic language | a computer language, one level removed from machine language, that has a mnemonic identifier for each machine instruction and has capability of symbolic data names |
system development life cycle | a model of the steps required to develop software that begins with the need for the software and concludes with its implementation |
system development software | any computer tool used to develop software, such as but not limited to compilers, debuggers and documentation tools |
system software | any software whose primary purpose is to support the operation of the computing environment, contrast with application software |
system support software | software used for non-application processing, such as system utilities |
text editor | software used to create and change text files, such as a word processor or a source program editor |
time-sharing environment | an operating system concept in which more than one user has access to a computer at the same time |
translation unit | in C, a temporary compilation file used to store modified source code |
translator | a generic term for any of the language conversion programs |
waterfall model | a system development life cycle in which each phase of development, such as requirement development and design, is completed before the next phase starts |
whitebox testing | program testing in which the internal design of the program is considered; clear box testing, contrast with blackbox testing |