System Software: Practice Questions

What is the primary role of an operating system (OS) in a computer system?

When comparing language translators, what is a primary advantage of using a compiler rather than an interpreter for a commercial software release?

In the process of compilation, which stage is specifically responsible for removing whitespace and comments from the source code and converting the remaining characters into tokens?

Which utility software is primarily used to prepare a new hard drive or storage medium for its first use by setting up the file system structure?

An Operating System uses the Shortest Remaining Time (SRT) scheduling algorithm. Three processes arrive at the following times with their required burst times:
- Process X: Arrives at \(t = 0\), Burst Time = \(10\text{ ms}\)
- Process Y: Arrives at \(t = 2\), Burst Time = \(4\text{ ms}\)
- Process Z: Arrives at \(t = 5\), Burst Time = \(2\text{ ms}\)

What is the total waiting time for Process X?

Explain two key management tasks performed by an operating system.

The Operating System (OS) is a vital piece of system software that manages both the hardware and the software resources of a computer.

(a) Describe two ways in which the user interface of an Operating System hides the complexities of the underlying hardware from the user.

(b) Explain the purpose of interrupts within a computer system. Your answer should describe how the Operating System identifies that an interrupt has occurred and the role of the Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) in handling it.