SQA Operating Systems and Software

  1. What is an operating system (OS)?
    An operating system (OS) is software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides services for computer programs.
  2. What is the primary function of an OS?
    The primary function of an OS is to act as an intermediary between users and computer hardware, managing resources and facilitating communication.
  3. What is multitasking?
    Multitasking is the ability of an OS to run multiple processes simultaneously by allocating time and resources to each process.
  4. What is a kernel?
    A kernel is the core part of an OS that manages system resources, hardware communication, and basic operations.
  5. What is a driver?
    A driver is software that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware devices.
  6. What is a file system?
    A file system is a method of organizing and storing files on storage devices, allowing for data management and retrieval.
  7. What is virtual memory?
    Virtual memory is a memory management technique that uses hard disk space as an extension of RAM to increase available memory.
  8. What is a process?
    A process is an instance of a program in execution, including its code, data, and state.
  9. What is a thread?
    A thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process, allowing for concurrent execution of tasks.
  10. What is system software?
    System software includes the operating system and utility programs that manage computer resources and provide a platform for application software.
  11. What is application software?
    Application software is designed to help users perform specific tasks, such as word processing, web browsing, or gaming.
  12. What is a user interface (UI)?
    The user interface (UI) is the visual and interactive part of software that allows users to interact with the computer system.
  13. What is an API?
    An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules and protocols that allows software applications to communicate with each other.
  14. What is open-source software?
    Open-source software is software with source code that is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute.
  15. What is proprietary software?
    Proprietary software is software owned by an individual or company, with restrictions on its use, modification, and distribution.
  16. What is a software update?
    A software update is a new release of software that includes improvements, bug fixes, and new features.
  17. What is software licensing?
    Software licensing is a legal agreement that specifies how software can be used, distributed, and modified.
  18. What is a patch?
    A patch is a piece of software designed to fix bugs, improve functionality, or update a computer program.
  19. What is cloud computing?
    Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the Internet, including storage, processing, and software applications.
  20. What is virtualization?
    Virtualization is the creation of virtual versions of physical hardware, such as servers and storage devices, to improve resource utilization.
  21. What is firmware?
    Firmware is low-level software stored on hardware devices that provides control and communication between the device and other system components.
  22. What is a bootloader?
    A bootloader is a program that initializes the operating system when a computer is turned on or restarted.
  23. What is a shell?
    A shell is a user interface for accessing an operating system's services, often through a command-line interface (CLI).
  24. What is a daemon?
    A daemon is a background process that runs continuously and performs specific tasks or waits for events to occur.
  25. What is a hypervisor?
    A hypervisor is software that creates and manages virtual machines by partitioning hardware resources.
  26. What is process scheduling?
    Process scheduling is the method by which an operating system allocates CPU time to various processes.
  27. What is a context switch?
    A context switch is the process of saving the state of a running process and restoring the state of another process.
  28. What is deadlock?
    Deadlock is a situation where two or more processes are unable to proceed because each is waiting for resources held by the other(s).
  29. What is a file permission?
    File permissions are settings that determine who can read, write, or execute a file in an operating system.
  30. What is a system call?
    A system call is a mechanism by which a program requests a service from the operating system's kernel.
  31. What is a swap file?
    A swap file is a file on a disk used by the operating system to simulate additional RAM by temporarily storing inactive memory pages.
  32. What is load balancing?
    Load balancing is the distribution of workloads across multiple computing resources to optimize resource use and avoid overloading.
  33. What is a patch management system?
    A patch management system is a process for acquiring, testing, and installing patches (updates) to software and systems.
  34. What is an emulator?
    An emulator is software that enables one computer system to behave like another, allowing software designed for one system to run on another.
  35. What is system monitoring?
    System monitoring involves tracking the performance and activities of a computer system to ensure it is operating efficiently and securely.
  36. What is a rollback?
    A rollback is the process of reverting a software system to a previous stable state after a failed update or installation.
  37. What is a service pack?
    A service pack is a collection of updates, fixes, and enhancements to a software program, bundled together for installation.
  38. What is a user account?
    A user account is a personalized environment in an operating system that includes user-specific settings and permissions.
  39. What is a software suite?
    A software suite is a collection of related software programs bundled together, such as Microsoft Office.
  40. What is license activation?
    License activation is the process of verifying and enabling the use of software by validating a purchased license key.
  41. What is open-source software?
    Open-source software is software with source code that is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute.
  42. What is the GNU General Public License (GPL)?
    The GNU GPL is a widely used free software license that ensures end users have the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software.
  43. What is the difference between freeware and open-source software?
    Freeware is software that is available at no cost but with restricted usage rights, while open-source software includes the source code and allows modification and redistribution.
  44. What is a software license?
    A software license is a legal agreement that defines how software can be used, distributed, and modified by end users.
  45. What is Software as a Service (SaaS)?
    SaaS is a cloud computing model where software applications are delivered over the Internet and accessed through a web browser, typically on a subscription basis.
  46. What is a commercial software license?
    A commercial software license is a license that requires users to purchase the software and comply with specific terms and conditions set by the vendor.
  47. What is a perpetual license?
    A perpetual license allows users to use software indefinitely after a one-time purchase, without the need for ongoing payments.
  48. What is a subscription license?
    A subscription license allows users to access and use software for a specific period, typically requiring regular payments for continued use.
  49. What is a proprietary license?
    A proprietary license is a restrictive license that grants limited rights to users, often prohibiting modification and redistribution of the software.
  50. What is a copyleft license?
    A copyleft license is a type of open-source license that requires derived works to be distributed under the same license terms, ensuring continued freedom for all users.
  51. What is dual licensing?
    Dual licensing is when software is released under two different licenses, allowing users to choose which one to comply with based on their needs.
  52. What is a software development kit (SDK)?
    An SDK is a collection of software tools and libraries that developers use to create applications for specific platforms or environments.
  53. What is version control?
    Version control is a system that tracks changes to software code, allowing developers to manage revisions and collaborate on projects.
  54. What is containerization?
    Containerization is a technique in which applications are packaged with their dependencies into containers, enabling consistent deployment across different environments.
  55. What is continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD)?
    CI/CD is a practice in software development where code changes are automatically tested and deployed to production, ensuring rapid and reliable updates.
  56. What is a microservices architecture?
    Microservices architecture is an approach to software design where an application is built as a collection of small, loosely coupled services that communicate over a network.
  57. What is a sandbox?
    A sandbox is an isolated environment where software can be tested and run without affecting the main system, ensuring security and stability.
  58. What is an end-user license agreement (EULA)?
    An EULA is a legal contract between the software vendor and the user that outlines the terms and conditions for using the software.
  59. What is a public domain license?
    A public domain license allows software to be freely used, modified, and distributed without any restrictions or copyright claims.
  60. What is a software audit?
    A software audit is a review of software usage and licensing within an organization to ensure compliance with license agreements and identify potential issues.