AQA 7517 4.6.3.1: Types of program translator
The free BugBot lessons that teach this point, a robot to try it on, and the past-paper questions that test it.
What it covers
A phone, a supercomputer, a car's airbag controller and BugBot all have operating systems, but not the same kind. At GCSE (F9.8) you met embedded systems. At A level you need to name five types of operating system, say what makes each one different, and explain virtual machines: software that pretends to be a machine.
- Five types of operating system
- Virtual machines
- A bytecode machine, twice
Or do it in the simulator, with tasks that mark themselves
Lessons that teach it
- A10.6 Types of operating system and virtual machines Operating systems, software and translators
Multi-tasking, multi-user, real-time, embedded and distributed systems, and a bytecode virtual machine that drives the robot. - A10.7 Programming languages and translators Operating systems, software and translators
Machine code, assembly and imperative high-level languages, the Little Man Computer, and choosing an assembler, compiler, interpreter or…
Try it on a robot
The task from A10.6 Types of operating system and virtual machines, running here. Change the program and press Run.
The specification is AQA's own document; this page says which of our lessons teach point 4.6.3.1 and is not endorsed by the board.