← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Why an application needs the operating system, firmware and hardware

An application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS to manage resources, the firmware to start the OS and the hardware to carry out its instructions.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 4.1 Types of Software and Interrupts — Module 40

Understanding Why an application needs the operating system, firmware and hardware in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: The OS manages resources for applications. If it is missing, the application cannot get memory, processor time or file access. The firmware and bootloader start the computer and load the OS. Without them, the OS never runs, so applications have nothing to run on. Hardware, such as the CPU and RAM, carries out the instructions of the program. Applications are not system software. The layers go from applications to the OS, then firmware, then hardware. The user interacts with the application layer. The hardware performs the fetch-decode-execute cycle. The OS manages the hardware but does not replace it. This is the core idea of the module: an application depends on every layer below it in order to run.

Common mistakes: Firmware does not run the application. It starts the bootloader, which loads the OS, and the OS then runs the application. The line should be 'firmware starts bootloader'. Without an operating system nothing manages the resources, so the application cannot run at all. It does not run faster. The line should be 'application cannot run'.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 390–408) and word search (Modules 390–418).

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Learning
Duo
Which statement is correct about a web browser on a computer?
It needs the operating system to manage memory and the CPU for itIt can run on its own because it talks directly to the hardware
Matches
An application can run on bare hardware with no OS.
↓
Wrong: the application needs the OS to manage resources such as memory, the CPU and files. Without the OS it cannot run.
Applying
Meanings
Term
application dependency
Meaning
An application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS to manage resources, the firmware to start the OS and the hardware to carry out its instructions.
Practice
IF Hardware = FALSE THEN
Testing
Gaps
An app needs the to manage resources
Check Answer
Spots
1power on computer
2firmware runs the application

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Quick Questions

1. Which statement is correct about a web browser on a computer?
A. It needs the operating system to manage memory and the CPU for it ✓
B. It can run on its own because it talks directly to the hardware
An application cannot run on its own. The OS manages resources such as RAM, the CPU and files so the application can use them.
2. A computer has hardware and applications installed, but the operating system has been deleted. What happens?
A. The applications cannot run because nothing manages the resources ✓
B. The applications run as normal because the hardware does all the work
Without an OS, nothing manages memory, files or the CPU for the applications, so they cannot run.
3. What is the job of the firmware and bootloader in the layers?
A. To start up the computer and load the operating system ✓
B. To store the user's documents and photos
The firmware holds the bootloader, which loads the OS into RAM when the computer is switched on. Documents are stored on secondary storage.
4. Which answer correctly uses 'because' to explain why an application needs hardware?
A. An application needs hardware because it is a type of system software
B. An application needs hardware because the CPU is needed to carry out its instructions ✓
Hardware, such as the CPU and RAM, carries out the instructions of the program. Applications are not system software.
5. The firmware on a computer is missing and the OS is stored on the hard drive. What happens when it is switched on?
A. The OS loads itself because the hard drive is non-volatile
B. The OS is not loaded, so the applications cannot be used ✓
The firmware starts the bootloader, which loads the OS into RAM. Without it, the OS is not started, so no application can run.

Match the Pairs

application dependency → An application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS, the firmware and the hardware underneath it.
Application -> OS -> Firmware -> Hardware → The layers of a computer, from the program the user sees down to the physical parts that carry out instructions.
With no operating system, an application has nothing to manage the RAM, CPU time and files it needs, so it cannot run. → IF OS = missing THEN application cannot run
With no firmware or bootloader, the OS is never loaded into RAM, so no application can be started. → IF firmware = missing THEN OS is not loaded
An application can run on bare hardware with no OS. → Wrong: the application needs the OS to manage resources such as memory, the CPU and files. Without the OS it cannot run.
The hardware loads the OS by itself, so firmware is not needed. → Wrong: the hardware only carries out instructions. The firmware and bootloader provide the first instructions that start the computer and load the OS.

Key Term

application dependency
An application cannot run on its own: it needs the OS to manage resources, the firmware to start the OS and the hardware to carry out its instructions.

Fill in the Blanks

1. An app needs the OS to manage resources
Hint: Type the short name of the system software that shares out memory and other resources
2. The firmware starts the OS at power on
Hint: Type the name of the permanent software stored on a chip that begins the start-up
3. The hardware carries out instructions
Hint: Type the word for the physical parts, such as the CPU, that do the work
4. No bootloader means the OS never loads
Hint: Type the small program that loads the operating system into RAM
5. The app cannot run because there is no OS
Hint: Type the linking word that gives a reason in an explanation

Spot the Error

Question 1
A power on computer
B firmware runs the application
C bootloader loads the OS
D OS runs the application
Line B — Firmware does not run the application. It starts the bootloader, which loads the OS, and the OS then runs the application. The line should be 'firmware starts bootloader'.
Question 2
A IF no operating system THEN
B no resource management
C no user interface
D application runs faster
E ENDIF
Line D — Without an operating system nothing manages the resources, so the application cannot run at all. It does not run faster. The line should be 'application cannot run'.
Question 3
A layer1 = application
B layer2 = firmware
C layer3 = operating system
D layer4 = application
Line A — The hardware is the bottom layer because everything else depends on it. The application is the top layer. Line 1 should be 'layer1 = hardware'.
Question 4
A app wants to save a file
B firmware manages the storage
C hardware writes the data
Line B — Managing storage and files is a job of the operating system, not the firmware. Firmware only helps start the OS. The line should be 'OS manages the storage'.
Question 5
A no firmware present
B bootloader cannot be found
C OS is loaded as normal
D application cannot start
Line C — With no firmware the bootloader cannot be found, so the OS is never loaded and the application cannot start. The line should be 'OS is never loaded'.

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