System Programming/System Software Question Bank

Following is the list of the repeatedly asked questions on System Programming.


UNIT –I

Q-1.1 Draw and explain the general machine structure?
Q-1.2 What do you mean by system programming? Explain the components of system programming.
Q-1.3 Explain the terms:
i.) Assembler
ii) Microprocessor
iii) Compiler
iv) Interpreter
v) Cross compiler
vi) Loader
Q-1.4 Answer the following:-
i) Why should we use base register, index register and displacement format for the formation of address?
ii) Why the technique address modification using instruction as data is a bad programming technique?
iii) Give the difference between BALR and USING, DC and EQU.
iv) Why is it better to use LTORG pseudo OP before the DC and DS pseudo OP? Explain.
Q-1.5 Explain operating system user viewpoint as batch control language.
Q-1.6 Explain the different functions of operating system?


UNIT-II

Q-2.1. Give the databases used by pass-1 and pass-2 of assembler.
Q-2.2. Draw and explain the detailed flowchart for pass-2 of a two-pass assembler.
Q-2.3. Explain the problems faced by a one-pass assembler.
Q-2.4. Explain in detail with a suitable example, the formats and contents of databases used in assembler design.
Q-2.5. List different instruction format for IBM 360/370 machine with example.
Q-2.6 What is the difference between:-
i) Procedure and program
ii) Traffic Controller and Scheduler
Open Subroutine and Closed Subroutine.
Q-2.7 Explain the problems faced by a one-pass assembler. How can we overcome with the problems faced by the one pass assembler?
Q-2.8 Explain with example different data formats of IBM 360/370 system.?
Q-2.9 Define the following
i) Execution time.
ii) Compile time.
Q-2.10 Explain the meaning of following instruction of IBM 360.BALR, EQU, LTORG, DC, DS. What restrictions are enforced on assembler while processing LTORG, DS, DC instructions.

UNIT-III

Q-3.1 Give the entries in symbol table, literal table, and base table at the end of pass-1 and pass-2 of the assembler. Also give the code at the end of each pass


PROG 1 START 0
BALR 15,0
USING *,15
LR 5,15
LH 1,DAT1
USING *,10
BR 14
DAT 2 DC F’11’
DAT 1 DC H’22’
TRS DC H’22’
BCK DS F
AA EQU 1
DD EQU 2
BALR 2,0
USING *+ AA,TRS
LA 7,=A(BCK)
BR 6
DC H’64’
DROP D
L 9,A(DAT 1)
A 9,=A(DAT1)
LTORG
ST 9,=F’400’
END

Q-2.2 Write a machine language program to add the contents of 20 adjacent full words in memory to the number 50 under following set of assumptions
1) The program is in core at absolute location 48
2) The 20 adjacent full words are starting at absolute location 900
3) The number 50 to be added is at absolute location 896
3) The number 20 is at absolute location 892
4) Register No. 1 contains 900

Q-3.3 for the following assembly program show :-
i) The MDT
ii) The MNT and
The expanded assembly language program.

MACRO
STORE & ANS
ST 1,& ANS
MEND
MACRO
PERFORM & ADD, & DEST
SR 1,1
MACRO
& ADD &A, &B
L 1,& A
A 1, & B
MEND
&DEST DS F
MEND
ARITH START 0
USING *, 15
PERFORM PLUS,RESULT
PLUS NUM1,NUM2
STORE RESULT
NUM1 DC F ‘4’
NUM2 DC F ‘5’
END
Q-3.4 Explain Macro call within macro definition with suitable example.
Q-3.5 Draw flow charts for macro call within macro.Also explain it.
Q-3.6 Define macro and explain the features of macro facility provide by the macro language of IBM 360/370.
Q-3.7 Give the database required for the two pass microprocessor.

UNIT IV

Q-4.1 Explain absolute loader scheme with its advantages and disadvantages.
Q-4.2 What are different loading schemes ? Explain with example.
Q-4.3 What do you mean by dynamic loading ?
Q-4.4 Explain the use of MDLC and MDI in the algorithm for single pass macro
definition within macro.
Q-4.5 Give the entries in MNT, ALA and DMT for the following definition and call:-
MACRO
OPRTN & macnm, &op
MACRO
& macnm &A, &B
L 1, &A
&OP 1, &B
ST 1,&B
MEND
MEND
: .
DATA 1 DC F ‘10’
DATE 2 DC F ‘11’
DATA 3 DC F ‘20’
:
OPRTN ADD A
OPRTN SUN S
:
ADD DATA1, DATA2
:
SUB DATA1, DATA3
:
END

Q-4.7 Explain the different functions of loader.
Q-4.8 Give the various data structures in the design of pass-1 and pass-2 of a Two-pass direct linking loader.
Q-4.9 Different loading scheme.
Q-4.10 Write short notes on
i) Dynamic Loading
ii) Dynamic Linking

UNIT V

Q-5.1 Explain functional modularity of programming language.
Q-5.2 Give general model of compiler.
Q-5.3 Describe in brief features of high level language.
Q-5.4 Give details about ESD,TXT,RLD and END cards.
Q-5.5 Explain in brief
i) GEST
ii) LESA
Q-5.6 Write short notes on Asynchronous operation.
Q-5.7 Explain the following address constants
i) Absolute
ii) Simple re-locatable
Complex re-locatable.
Q-5.8 Consider the following program segments

PG 1 START
ENTRY SYM 11
EXTRN PG 2, SYM 23
DC A(PGA), A(PGB + 4)
SYM 11 DC A(SYM 11-PG 1), (SYM 23 –PG 2)
END

PG 2 START
ENTRY SYM 23
EXTRN PG 1, SYM 11

SYM 21 DC A(SYM 11-2),A(SYM 21)
SYM 22 DC A(PG 2+4),A(SYM 21 –PG 2)
SYM 23 DC A(SYM 21 –PG 1)
END
Assume these two programs are to be loaded starting at location 200 in order PG 1 and PG 2. Fill the GEST for each symbol. Also give the ESD and RLD card entries for the above program segments.

Q-5.9 Explain in brief the advantages of using high level languages over that of Assembly languages.
Q-5.10 Explain what do you mean by functional modularity of programming languages.

Q-5.11 Write short note on Asynchronous operation.

UNIT VI

Q-6.1 What are the differences between:-
i) Passes and Phases of compiler
ii) Syntax analysis and Semantic analysis
Tokens and Uniform symbol.
Q-6.2 Explain in detail the phases of compiler.
Q-6.3 Explain the following terms and differentiates between.
i) Phase and pass.
ii) Multitasking and multiprogramming.
Q-6.4 Give the important features of higher level language.
Q-6.5 Explain what do you mean by functional modularity of programming languages.
Q-6.6 Explain in brief the advantages of using high level languages over that of assembly languages.
Q-6.7 Write short note on Asynchronous operation.
Q-6.8 What is the difference between:-
i) Passes and phases of compiler
ii) Syntax analysis and semantic analysis
Tokens and Uniform symbol.
Q-6.9 Explain in detail the phases of compiler.

Q-6.10 Explain in brief the advantages of using high level languages over that of Assembly languages.
Q-6.11 Explain what do you mean by functional modularity of programming languages.
Q-6.12 Write short note on Asynchronous operation.
Q-6.13 Explain the parameter passing mechanisms in High level languages.
Q-6.14 Explain in detail phases of compiler.
Q-6.15 Describe in brief features of high level language.
Q-6.16 Explain in detail phases of compiler.