$Id: review3.txt,v 1.1 2005/09/13 16:05:12 locasto Exp $
Fall 2005 COMS 1003
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0. List the steps of the Software Life Cycle and briefly explain each.

   - Problem Statement: Identify the core problem, abstract away detail
   - Requirements Specification: Enumerate the requirements for 
           solving the problem
   - Design Specification: details of how you will satisfy the 
           requirements and what precise steps will be taken
   - Construction: the actual writing of code
   - Testing: verifying that your solution (code) satisfies the design
           parameters and the requirements specification. Usually
           performed informally throughout development, as well as
           formally.
   - Documentation: providing supporting explanation of your coding
           solutions and instructions on how to use, run, and maintain
           the software.

1. What is an opcode? 

   A series of binary digits that corrosponds to an instruction in
    machine language.

2. What is assembly language? What are some generic assembly language
commands?

   Assembly language is a low-level, processor specific language.
   Most assembly languages have commands that corrospond to:
    - MOVE, ADD, SUB, AND, OR, LOAD, STORE, etc. 

3. Explain the term memory hierarchy and diagram it.
 
   Memory hierarchy describes the relationship between storage capacity,
    cost, and speed. High speed memory is usually more costly, but faster.
   
   [registers]                         high speed, high cost, low capacity
   [cache]                                        |
   [primary memory (RAM)]                         |
   [secondary memory (hard disk)]                 \/
   [tape, DVD, CD]                     low speed, low cost, high capacity

4. What role does the bus play in a computer?

   The bus connects the CPU, memory, and periphrials and allows them to
    communicate and transfer data.

5. What is top down design?

   Top-down design is the practice of outlining a design solution in 
    high-level terms and successively filling in the implementation
    details.

6. What is the GNU C Compiler (GCC) ?

   The GCC is a piece of software (like a word-processor or database)
    that converts C code into machine code.

7. Is C case-sensitive? What does case-sensitive mean in the
context of a computer language?

   Yes. A case-sensitive programming language is one in which identifiers,
    keywords, and other characters must have consistent case; otherwise,
    a syntax error occurs.

8. What is the purpose of:

    int main(int argc, char* argv[]){}

    This sequence of characters is what is known as a function signature, 
    and it is special because it denotes the start of execution 
    (control flow) for C programs.

9. What is your favorite color?
   
    Wrong.