Computer Science Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Overview
Computer Science Fundamentals
Basic Concepts
Computer
Stands for “Information” and “Automatic.” It is the science that studies the automatic processing of information.
Systems
A set of elements connected or related to information processing (hardware and software).
Program
Orders or instructions arranged and grouped.
Operating System
An organized collection of software control consisting of routines that run the computer and provide an environment for running programs.
Data
Characters and values necessary for the operation of the system, while instructions indicate the operations and processes that must be conducted with this data.
Details
A set of related data with a specific structure or relationship to syntax.
Knowledge
Consists of items of information with certain semantic meanings and is often considered a subset of information.
Intelligence
Consisting of elements of information used to interpret and manage another.
Data Types
There are three main types of data:
- Input: Data that reaches computers through input devices or storage units.
- Intermediate: Results produced during processing that are not part of the output.
- Output: Results of processing the input and intermediate data.
Key Processes
Translation
The process of converting machine language into a language understood by the user.
Encoding
The process of transforming symbolic information into another form without loss of information.
Units of Information
Bit
A bistable element (two possible states) representing a binary variable.
Byte
A set of 8 bits.
Character
The fundamental information unit of human language. Can be alphabetic, numeric, or special.
Software Categories
Software
Intangible components of a computer system with no physical presence.
System Software
An essential component of hardware that provides global operation to the computer system.
Application Software
Software designed to replace processes and procedures within an organization.
Commissioned Applications
Enterprise applications that instruct another software developer to supply a specific task or procedure.
Key Software
Software that addresses a broad population, often pre-installed on computers.
Types of Application Software
General Programs
Widespread programs used by different customer classes and activities.
Vertical Application Programs
Generally aimed at professionals and SMEs.
Horizontal Application Programs
Aimed at a wide audience and adaptable to different circumstances.
Calculation Programs
Used for complex calculations, accounting, budgeting, etc.
Text Applications
Word processors for producing materials of indefinite length.
Design Applications
Used in industrial design, electronics, advertising, journalism, and graphic design.
Graphics Packages
Used in multimedia applications and web page design.
Database Programs
Allow maintenance and management of information.
Operating Systems
Responsible for checking hardware units and managing information within the computer system.
Utility or System Software Programs
Help users with tasks related to managing or manipulating information.
Application Programs
Allow users to perform specific tasks and procedures.
Software Licensing
Software Libre
Permission for anyone to use, copy, and distribute with or without modifications, free of charge or for a fee. Source code is available.
Freeware
May be distributed but not modified. Source code may or may not be available.
Shareware
Requires payment if used frequently for business purposes. Redistribution is allowed, but a license fee may be required.
Commercial Software
The relationship between the software and the user is subject to a contract specifying usage rights.
Generations of Computer Systems
Second Generation
Invention of the transistor, more powerful computers, operating systems, programming languages, magnetic tape, and batch processes.
Third Generation
Integrated circuits, more powerful software, multiprogramming operating systems.
Scalability
The ability to expand the functionality of a system.
Fourth Generation
Use of integrated circuits, the microprocessor revolution, multitasking and multiprogramming.