Resource allocation (computing)

Resource Allocation

In terms of a computer resource allocation is nessessary for any application to be run on the system. When the user opens any program this will be counted as a process, and therefor requires the computer to allocate certain resource for it to be able to run. For example a section of the computers main memory, access to data in a device interface buffer, one to multiple files and the required ammount of provessing power.

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A computer with a single processor can only manage one process at a time regardless of the ammount of programs loaded by the user (or iniciated on start-up). Computers using single processors appear to be running multiple programs at once due to the time spent on each. The processor jumps between programs processing what is needed in very small ammounts of time. This is a process known as time slicing named as such, as each program will be given a slice of the processor's time. The time allocation is automatic, however priority to certain programs may be given (high or low). Essentially giving high priorty programs more/bigger slices of the processors time. Programs that are able to use dual processors are not common, and must be coded by the programmer to deal with this processing in a certain way. For example "Adobe Photoshop" is a program capibile of using a dual processor machine to its potential.

195.194.111.2 11:52, 7 November 2006 (UTC)Finlay MacQuarrie