Computer Software Services

ALU. arithmetic logic unit.

ANSI. American National Standards Institute.

ASCII. American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

BASIC. An acronym for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, a high-level programming language intended to facilitate learning to program in an interactive environment.

C# is an object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft as part of their .NET initiative, and later approved as a standard by ECMA and ISO. C# has a procedural, object oriented syntax based on C++ that includes aspects of several other programming languages (most notably Delphi, Visual Basic, and Java) with a particular emphasis on simplification (fewer symbolic requirements than C++, fewer decorative requirements than Java).

C++
C++, originally named “C with Classes, is a high-level programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs. C++ adds object-oriented features to its predecessor, C. C++ is a statically-typed free-form multi-paradigm language supporting procedural programming, data abstraction, object-oriented programming, and generic programming. C++ is one of the most popular programming languages. The C++ programming language standard was ratified in 1998 as ISO/IEC 14882:1998, and the current version of which is the 2003 version, ISO/IEC 14882:2003. A new version of the standard (known informally as C++0x) is being developed.

CAD. computer aided design.

CD-ROM. compact disc – read only memory.

CISC. complex instruction set computer.

CMOS. complementary metal-oxide semiconductor.

DAC. digital-to-analog converter.

DFD. data flow diagram.

DMA. direct memory access.

DOS. disk operating system.

FTA. Fault Tree Analysis.

FTP. file transfer protocol.

fail-safe. (IEEE) A system or component that automatically places itself in a safe operational mode in the event of a failure.

failure. (IEEE) The inability of a system or component to perform its required functions within specified performance requirements. See: bug, crash, exception, fault.

GB. gigabyte.

half duplex. Transmissions [communications] which occur in only one direction at a time, but that direction can change.

handshake. An interlocked sequence of signals between connected components in which each component waits for the acknowledgement of its previous signal before proceeding with its action, such as data transfer.

hard copy. Printed, etc., output on paper.

hard disk drive. Hardware used to read from or write to a hard disk. See: disk, disk drive.

hard drive. Syn: hard disk drive.

hardware. (ISO) Physical equipment, as opposed to programs, procedures, rules, and associated documentation. Contrast with software.

implementation phase. (IEEE) The period of time in the software life cycle during which a software product is created from design documentation and debugged.

implementation requirement. (IEEE) A requirement that specifies or constrains the coding or construction of a system or system component.

implementation. The process of translating a design into hardware components, software components, or both. See: coding.

job control language. (IEEE) A language used to identify a sequence of jobs, describe their requirements to an operating system, and control their execution.

job. (IEEE) A user-defined unit of work that is to be accomplished by a computer. For example, the compilation, loading, and execution of a computer program. See: job control language.

key element. (QA) An individual step in an critical control point of the manufacturing process.

key. One or more characters, usually within a set of data, that contains information about the set, including its identification.

kilobyte. Approximately one thousand bytes. This symbol is used to describe the size of computer memory or disk storage space. Because computers use a binary number system, a kilobyte is precisely 210 or 1024 bytes.

language. programming language.

large scale integration. A classification of ICs [chips] based on their size as expressed by the number of circuits or logic gates they contain. An LSI IC contains 3,000 to 100,000 transistors.

latency. (ISO) The time interval between the instant at which a CPU’s instruction control unit initiates a call for data and the instant at which the actual transfer of the data starts. Syn: waiting time.
latent defect. See: bug, fault.

life cycle methodology. The use of any one of several structured methods to plan, design, implement, test. and operate a system from its conception to the termination of its use. See: waterfall model.
life cycle. See: software life cycle.

Macro:

A macro in computer science is an abstraction, that defines how a certain input pattern is replaced by an output pattern according to a defined set of rules. There are three broad categories of macros, and each takes a different kind of input pattern to produce a different kind of output pattern: Programming macros, Application Macros and Keyboard macros.

Macro Language:
A macro language is a programming language in which all or most computation is done by expanding macros. Macro languages are not widely used for general-purpose programming, but are common in text processing applications, for example, C preprocessor and Internet Macros (iOpus).
MIPS. million instructions per second.

MOS. metal-oxide semiconductor.

MOSFET. metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.

MSI. medium scale integration.

MTBF. mean time between failures.

MTTR. mean time to repair.

MTTF. mean time to failure.

network. (1) (ISO) An arrangement of nodes and interconnecting branches. (2) A system [transmission channels and supporting hardware and software] that connects several remotely located computers via telecommunications.

network database. A database organization method that allows for data relationships in a net-like form. A single data element can point to multiple data elements and can itself be pointed to by other data elements. Contrast with relational database.

nibble. Half a byte, or four bits.

node. A junction or connection point in a network, e.g. a terminal or a computer.

OOP. object oriented programming.

object. In object oriented programming, A self contained module [encapsulation] of data and the programs [services] that manipulate [process] that data.

object code. (NIST) A code expressed in machine language ["1"s and "0"s] which is normally an output of a given translation process that is ready to be executed by a computer. Syn: machine code. Contrast with source code. See: object program.

object oriented design. (IEEE) A software development technique in which a system or component is expressed in terms of objects and connections between those objects.

object oriented language. (IEEE) A programming language that allows the user to express a program in terms of objects and messages between those objects. Examples include C++, Smalltalk and LOGO.

PDL. program design language.

PLA. programmable logic array.

PLD. programmable logic device.

PMOS. positive channel MOS.

PROM. programmable read only memory.

paging. (IEEE) A storage allocation technique in which programs or data are divided into fixed length blocks called pages, main storage/memory is divided into blocks of the same length called page frames, and pages are stored in page frames, not necessarily contiguously or in logical order, and pages are transferred between main and auxiliary storage as needed.

qualification, installation. (FDA) Establishing confidence that process equipment and ancillary systems are compliant with appropriate codes and approved design intentions, and that manufacturer’s recommendations are suitably considered.

qualification, operational. (FDA) Establishing confidence that process equipment and sub-systems are capable of consistently operating within established limits and tolerances.

qualification, process performance. (FDA) Establishing confidence that the process is effective and reproducible.

qualification, product performance. (FDA) Establishing confidence through appropriate testing that the finished product produced by a specified process meets all release requirements for functionality and safety.

RAM. random access memory.

RFI. radiofrequency interference.

RISC. reduced instruction set computer.

ROM. read only memory.

radiofrequency interference. High frequency electromagnetic waves that emanate from electronic devices such as chips and other electronic devices. An electromagnetic disturbance caused by such radiating and transmitting sources as electrostatic discharge [ESD], lightning, radar, radio and TV signals, and motors with brushes can induce unwanted voltages in electronic circuits, damage components and cause malfunctions. See: electromagnetic interference.

SOPs. standard operating procedures.

SQL. structured query language.

SSI. small scale integration.

safety. (DOD) Freedom from those conditions that can cause death, injury, occupational illness, or damage to or loss of equipment or property, or damage to the environment.

safety critical. (DOD) A term applied to a condition, event, operation, process or item of whose proper recognition, control, performance or tolerance is essential to safe system operation or use; e.g., safety critical function, safety critical path, safety critical component.

TCP/IP. transmission control protocol/Internet protocol.

tape. Linear magnetic storage hardware, rolled onto a reel or cassette.

telecommunication system. The devices and functions relating to transmission of data between the central processing system and remotely located users.

terabyte. Approximately one trillion bytes; precisely 240 or 1,099,511,627,776 bytes. See: kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte.

terminal. A device, usually equipped with a CRT display and keyboard, used to send and receive information to and from a computer via a communication channel.

ser. (ANSI) Any person, organization, or functional unit that uses the services of an information processing system. See: end user.

user’s guide. (ISO) Documentation that describes how to use a functional unit, and that may include description of the rights and responsibilities of the user, the owner, and the supplier of the unit. Syn: user manual, operator manual.

utility program. (ISO) A computer program in general support of the processes of a computer; e.g., a diagnostic program, a trace program, a sort program. Syn: service program. See: utility software.

utility software. (IEEE) Computer programs or routines designed to perform some general support function required by other application software, by the operating system, or by the system users. They perform general functions such as formatting electronic media, making copies of files, or deleting files.

validate. To prove to be valid.

validation. (1) (FDA) Establishing documented evidence which provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process will consistently produce a product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality attributes. Contrast with data validation.

validation, process. (FDA) Establishing documented evidence which provides a high degree of assurance that a specific process will consistently produce a product meeting its predetermined specifications and quality characteristics.

workstation. Any terminal or personal computer.

worm. An independent program which can travel from computer to computer across network connections replicating itself in each computer. They do not change other programs, but compromise a computer system through their impact on system performance. See: bomb, trojan horse, virus.

Xmodem. An asynchronous file transfer protocol initially developed for CP/M personal computers. First versions used a checksum to detect errors. Later versions use the more effective CRC method. Programs typically include both methods and drop back to checksum if CRC is not present at the other end. Xmodem transmits 128 byte blocks. Xmodem-1K improves speed by transmitting 1024 byte blocks. Xmodem-1K-G transmits without acknowledgment [for error free channels or when modems are self correcting], but transmission is cancelled upon any error. Contrast with Kermit, Ymodem, Zmodem.

Ymodem. An asynchronous file transfer protocol identical to Xmodem-1K plus batch file transfer [also called Ymodem batch]. Ymodem-G transmits without acknowledgement [for error-free channels or when modems are self correcting], but transmission is cancelled upon any error. Contrast with Kermit, Xmodem, Zmodem.

Zmodem. An asynchronous file transfer protocol that is more efficient than Xmodem. It sends file name, date and size first, and responds well to changing line conditions due to its variable length blocks. It uses CRC error correction and is effective in delay-induced satellite transmission. Contrast with Kermit, Xmodem, Ymodem.

ZipGenius
ZipGenius’ is a freeware file archiver designed for Microsoft Windows users, developed by M.Dev Software. It uses eg. 7-Zip format, and can also handle a number of other archive formats. It is a freeware product and is presented in two editions: STANDARD and SUITE. While the suite edition includes optional modules of the ZipGenius project (oriented to experts and power-users), the standard setup package simply includes the main ZipGenius application.

Zipping
Zipping refers to the process of compressing a file so it takes up less space. The compress files after zipping is called a zip file. There are two types of Zip files, normal (requiring a program to extract them) and self-executing that open up automatically. PKZip and WinZip are popular zipping and unzipping programs.

Zlib
zlib is an open-source, cross-platform data compression library. It was created by Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler as a general-purpose abstraction of the DEFLATE compression algorithm used in their gzip file compression program.