Topic 1 covers the design, implementation, and management of computer systems from a practical and theoretical perspective, including hardware components, system planning, and change management.
Stakeholders, requirements specification, feasibility study. Data migration: transferring data between systems. Different approaches to system changeover: direct (immediate switch), parallel (run both simultaneously), phased (gradual module-by-module), pilot (subset of users first). Each has trade-offs in risk, cost, and disruption.
CPU: ALU (arithmetic/logic), control unit (decode/execute), registers (fast temporary storage). RAM: volatile primary storage for active programs. ROM: non-volatile, stores boot instructions. Secondary storage: HDD (magnetic, large capacity), SSD (flash, faster), optical. Cache: small, very fast memory between CPU and RAM.
System software: OS manages hardware resources, provides user interface, handles file management, multitasking. Application software: solves specific user problems. Types: commercial off-the-shelf, custom-built, open-source. Drivers: interface between OS and hardware devices.
Topic 1 is the least technical IB CS topic — it focuses on systems thinking and management rather than programming. You need to understand hardware components, system design lifecycle, and change management processes. It is often paired with Paper 1 Section A conceptual questions. Think of it as "how computer systems are planned and managed" rather than "how to code."
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