System Software

CS303 / CST305 · KTU S5 CSE · Exam Preparation Dashboard

Module-wise Progress

🧠 Must-Memorize Concepts & Algorithms

Two-Pass Assembler: Pass 1 → assign addresses (LOCCTR, SYMTAB, OPTAB) | Pass 2 → generate object code (translate opcodes, resolve symbols)
Object Program Records: H (Header) = Program name + Start + Length | T (Text) = Start addr + Length + Object code | E (End) = First executable address
SIC Registers: A (Accumulator), X (Index), L (Linkage), PC (Program Counter), SW (Status Word) | SIC/XE adds: B, S, T, F
SIC/XE Instruction Formats: F1 (1 byte) | F2 (2 bytes) | F3 (3 bytes, nixbpe) | F4 (4 bytes, extended, +prefix)
Addressing Flags (nixbpe): n=indirect, i=immediate, x=indexed, b=base-relative, p=PC-relative, e=extended
Linking Loader: Pass 1 → assign load addresses to control sections (ESTAB) | Pass 2 → perform actual loading and relocation
Program Relocation: Modification Record M^col^length^±symbol | Relocation bits in text records for absolute loaders
Macro Processor: DEFTAB (definition table) + NAMTAB (name table) + ARGTAB (argument table) | Expansion replaces parameters
Multi-Pass Assembler: Resolves forward references in EQU/ORG that depend on other forward-referenced symbols using dependency graphs
Debugging Methods: By Induction (collect → organize → hypothesize → prove) | By Deduction (enumerate → eliminate → refine) | By Backtracking

📚 Study Topics Checklist

📈 Topic Frequency Analysis

Analysis of 4 exam papers: Dec 2022 (CST305), Jan 2023 (CS303), Dec 2023 (CS303), Jun 2024 (CS303)

📖 Notes & Materials

📝 Previous Year Questions

📐 Exam Pattern — CS303 / CST305

Part A + C (30 Marks)

10 questions × 3 marks each
Part A: 4 questions (Modules 1-2)
Part C: 4 questions (Modules 3-5)
All questions compulsory
Short answer / definition type

Part B + D + E (70 Marks)

Part B: 3 questions, answer 2 (9 marks each) — Modules 1-2
Part D: 3 questions, answer 2 (9 marks each) — Modules 3-4
Part E: 6 questions, answer 4 (10 marks each) — Module 5
Usually split as (a) + (b) sub-parts

🔁 Repeated Questions

Questions that appeared in 2 or more exam papers — highest exam ROI topics. Analysis across 4 papers: Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Dec 2023, Jun 2024

🔮 Predicted Questions

Part A / C — Short Questions (3 marks each)

Part B / D / E — Long Questions (9-10 marks each)

📅 3-Day Crash Study Plan

📋 Official Syllabus — CS303 / CST305

📘 Prescribed Textbooks & References

  • Text 1: Leland L. Beck — System Software: An Introduction to Systems Programming, 3rd Edition, Pearson Education
  • Ref 1: D.M. Dhamdhere — Systems Programming and Operating Systems, Tata McGraw-Hill
  • Ref 2: John J. Donovan — Systems Programming, Tata McGraw-Hill

⏱️ Study Timer

Pomodoro-style focus timer

25:00

⚠️ Danger Zone

This will reset ALL your progress — checklists, study plan, and module states.