The area of computer systems studies
the design and analysis of computers and programs that are used in practice.
- Compilers: programs that translate programs written in an easy-to-use
language (Scheme, Lisp, C, C++, Java, Pascal, etc.) into machine
language (the only language that actually runs on a machine).
- Operating Systems: programs that control the operation of a computer:
sharing resources among different programs, providing security, and providing
commonly needed utility programs.
- Data Bases: programs that store large amounts of data, can look up
data on request, provide security, allow multiple users to access the same data.
- Graphics: construction of pictures from models of objects.
- Performance: predicting how fast a computer system will operate.
- Real-time Systems: programs that must respond with an answer within
a limited amount of time.