Basics of Computer Systems

A computer system includes hardware, software, and data which all work together.
Hardware includes the physical components of a computer, like the CPU, memory, and input/output devices.
Software is the set of instructions that direct the hardware to carry out tasks.
Operating systems are a vital type of system software that controls overall operation of a computer.

Characteristics of Contemporary Processes, Software and Hardware

A process in computing is an instance of a program in execution. It needs resources like CPU time, memory, and files, and it can be made up of multiple threads.
Multithreading allows a computer to perform many different tasks at the same time.
Contemporary systems can also implement parallel processing, where many processors perform operations at the same time.
The speed of a processor is measured in gigahertz (GHz), while its power is measured in terms of the number of cores it has.

The CPU, or central processing unit, is considered the brain of the computer. It executes program instructions. The speed at which the CPU processes data is called clock speed.
Volatile memory, like RAM, requires power to keep the stored information accessible. Once the power is gone, the data is too.
Non-volatile memory, like a hard drive or flash memory, stores information even when not powered.
The motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer, housing the CPU, memory, and input/output device connections.

System software, like the operating system, coordinates and controls hardware functions.
Application software enables users to complete tasks, like word processing or web browsing.
A compiler translates the entire code of a program into machine code in one go, whereas an interpreter translates the code line by line, executing each line as it goes.
Low level programming languages, like assembler, are closer to machine code and specific to individual computer architectures.
High level programming languages, like Python or Java, are closer to human language and are easier to write, read, and maintain.

Networks are systems of interconnected computers that can send and share data.
LANS, or Local Area Networks, connect computers in a small geographical area, like a school.
WANS, or Wide Area Networks, cover a large geographical area, often made up of interconnected LANS.
Protocols are sets of rules that dictate how data should be transmitted across networks.
HTTP, or Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, is the protocol for transferring multimedia web pages.

Computers use different data types like integer, character, or Boolean values.
A data structure is a specialized format for organizing and storing data, like arrays, stacks, and queues.
An algorithm is a set of instructions for solving a particular problem. It can be represented with pseudocode or a flowchart.

Understanding the legal, moral, cultural, and ethical issues in computing is crucial. This includes topics like data protection, integrity, accessibility, and intellectual property.