Glossary (Compact 7)
3/12/2014
The following terms are used in the Windows Embedded Compact 7 documentation.
Advanced reduced instruction set computing
A specification for a RISC microchip architecture and system environment designed by MIPS Computer Systems to provide binary compatibility among software applications. See also Advanced RISC.Advanced RISC
A specification for a RISC microchip architecture and system environment designed by MIPS Computer Systems to provide binary compatibility among software applications.analog line
A communications line, such as a standard telephone line, that carries continuously varying (analog) signals.bit block transfer
A graphics function that moves many continuous bits from one memory location to another in the most efficient manner supported by the hardware.Bluetooth stack
The core portion of the Bluetooth protocol stack implementation that enables devices to locate each other and establish a connection. Through this connection, devices can exchange data and interact with one another through various applications.board support package
The software that implements and supports an operating system (OS) on a standard development board (SDB). See also BSP.boot loader
The software that automatically manages the boot process of a device when it is reset or started up. The boot loader resides in nonvolatile memory on your device.BSP
The software that implements and supports an operating system (OS) on a standard development board (SDB). See also board support package.build environment
The state of the development computer, including the directory structure and environment variables. The command-line build environment for the platform and projects is the build release directory.cache block
The smallest unit of memory than can be transferred between the main memory and the cache.candidate list
A list of options that the developer can define that will be presented to end-users in the Candidate Window when using an input method editor (IME).Catalog Editor
A user interface with which the developer can edit catalog item (.pbcxml) files, refresh, add catalog items, show all catalog files, and validate the metadata contained in a catalog item file.catalog file
A file that contains links to all data stored in a catalog and the thumbnail images that correspond to those images.catalog item
Any item that the developer can select from the catalog to add functionality to the custom operating system.CEDB database
The default database for Windows Embedded Compact, which has a small, flat structure optimized for efficient storage.CellCore
A software component that provides a basic set of wireless connection-oriented services for cellular radios.cellular radio
A software component that provides a basic set of wireless connection-oriented services for cellular radios.CEPC
A desktop computer-based hardware development platform.client application
Application software that gathers data from the user, prepares it for the server, and issues a request to the server. The client presents data received from the server to the user through its own user interface.COM
An object-based programming model designed to promote software interoperability; it allows two or more applications or components to easily cooperate with one another, even if they were written by different vendors, at different times, in different programming languages, or if they are running on different computers running different operating systems. See also Component Object Model.Compact Test Kit
A collection of built-in tests that the developer can use to test the performance, functionality, and stress of various aspects of Windows Embedded Compact applications. See also CTK.Component Object Model
An object-based programming model designed to promote software interoperability; it allows two or more applications or components to easily cooperate with one another, even if they were written by different vendors, at different times, in different programming languages, or if they are running on different computers running different operating systems. See also COM.core connectivity
A communications infrastructure that provides the basic components that are required for connectivity between a desktop computer and a Windows Embedded Compact-based device. It also supports device connectivity in various versions of Microsoft Platform Builder and Microsoft Visual Studio.core OS
The kernel and other features that are common to all operating systems based on Windows Embedded Compact. These features include security, storage, basic device drivers, and management of memory, threads, and processes.CTK
A collection of built-in tests that the developer can use to test the performance, functionality, and stress of various aspects of Windows Embedded Compact applications. See also Compact Test Kit.debug configuration
A project that is built with full symbolic debugging information and without optimization. The debug configuration is necessary for debugging.debug serial port
An I/O channel that is used for debugging a device driver or platform. The debugging information is transmitted one bit at a time over a single wire.Device Manager
An administrative tool that you can use to manage the devices on your computer. Using Device Manager, you can view and change device properties, update device drivers, configure device settings, and uninstall devices.display device
The visual output hardware for a computer or device.EDB database
An embedded database engine based on SQL Server Compact Edition that provides core functionality for Windows Embedded Compact applications. EDB is an updated version of the Windows Embedded Compact database (CEDB) that enhances performance and includes support for multiple transactions, user access, sort orders, key properties, and databases.Graphics, Windowing, and Events Subsystem
The Windows Embedded Compact .NET module that contains functionality to receive and process user input and to display text and images on display devices and printers. GWES includes functionality for creating and managing windows, controls, dialog boxes, and resources such as icons and menus. See also GWES.GWES
The Windows Embedded Compact .NET module that contains functionality to receive and process user input and to display text and images on display devices and printers. GWES includes functionality for creating and managing windows, controls, dialog boxes, and resources such as icons and menus. See also Graphics, Windowing, and Events Subsystem.hardware abstraction layer
A thin layer of software provided by the hardware manufacturer that hides, or abstracts, hardware differences from higher layers of the operating system. By means of the filter provided by the HAL, different types of hardware look alike to the rest of the operating system. This enables the operating system to be portable from one hardware platform to another. The HAL also provides routines that enable a single device driver to support the same device on all platforms.hardware platform
The hardware on which a system runs. Hardware platforms can simulate embedded devices.input method
A Component Object Model (COM) component that allows the user to input text using a touch screen.input method editor
A tool that lets you enter complex characters and symbols, such as those used in East Asian written languages, using a standard keyboard.kernel debugger
A debugging application that refines and debugs an operating system image. The kernel debugger works like an application debugger except that it is capable of debugging operating systems in addition to applications.Kernel Independent Transport Layer
The communication link between the development computer and the device used for debugging. KITL exposes the device hardware to the kernel debugger and works independently of the board and transport (such as Ethernet, serial, or USB) to send and receive data between the computer and the device. See also KITL.kernel mode
A highly privileged mode of operation where program code has direct access to all memory, including the address spaces of all user-mode processes and applications, and to hardware.kernel profiler
A mechanism that allows the developer to determine where the operating system is spending its time during operation.KITL
The communication link between the development computer and the device used for debugging. KITL exposes the device hardware to the kernel debugger and works independently of the board and transport (such as Ethernet, serial, or USB) to send and receive data between the computer and the device. See also Kernel Independent Transport Layer.language identifier
A standard international numeric abbreviation for a language and country/region. Each 16-bit language identifier consists of a primary language identifier indicating the language and a secondary sublanguage identifier indicating the country/region.legacy data
Data acquired by an organization that was compiled by another organization. The acquiring organization thus receives the existing information as a legacy from the information's prior owner.locale identifier
A 32-bit value which consists of the language ID in the low word (bits 0-15) and the sorting ID (bits 16-19) and a reserved value (bits 20-31) in the high word.MDD
A driver that contains code that is common to all devices of a specific type and exposes a device driver interface (DDI) to the operating system (OS). An MDD calls platform dependent driver (PDD) functions to access the hardware and one MDD can use multiple PDDs. See also model device driver.model device driver
A driver that contains code that is common to all devices of a specific type and exposes a device driver interface (DDI) to the operating system (OS). An MDD calls platform dependent driver (PDD) functions to access the hardware and one MDD can use multiple PDDs. See also MDD.module
A loadable unit, which can contain type declarations and type implementations. The module contains enough information to enable the common language runtime to locate all implementation bits when the module is loaded. The format for modules is an extension of the Windows portable executable (PE) file format. When deployed, a module is always contained in an assembly.network streamer
A wrapper object that is used to transmit a packet over a network.OAL
The interface between the kernel and the hardware of a device. See also OEM adaptation layer.OEM
A company that acquires a product or component and incorporates it into a new product with its own brand name, e.g. a computer manufacturer that pre-installs a Microsoft Windows desktop operating system onto a new computer for sale.OEM adaptation layer
The interface between the kernel and the hardware of a device. See also OAL.operating system design
A selection of catalog items that the developer creates by using Platform Builder and then builds into a run-time image. See also OS design.original equipment manufacturer
A company that acquires a product or component and incorporates it into a new product with its own brand name, e.g. a computer manufacturer that pre-installs a Microsoft Windows desktop operating system onto a new computer for sale.OS design
A selection of catalog items that the developer creates by using Platform Builder and then builds into a run-time image. See also operating system design.overlay
A section of a program designed to reside on a designated storage device, such as a disk, and to be loaded into memory when needed, usually overwriting one or more overlays already in memory.PDD
A driver that encapsulates hardware specific code needed to write directly to a specific device. The PDD is used by the model device driver (MDD) to communicate with the device. See also platform dependent driver.Platform Builder
An add-in to the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE) for building customized embedded operating systems based on Windows Embedded Compact.Platform Builder catalog
The collection in Platform Builder that contains and displays the operating system (OS) features, board support packages (BSPs), transport layers, and drivers that can be added to a Windows Embedded Compact OS design.platform dependent driver
A driver that encapsulates hardware specific code needed to write directly to a specific device. The PDD is used by the model device driver (MDD) to communicate with the device. See also PDD.Platform Manager
A technology that manages the communications between a development computer and a Windows Embedded Compact-based device. Platform Builder uses Platform Manager to download files, controls, run times, and remote tool clients to the device.pocket IME
A small-sized IME that can support embedded systems without keyboards that have small screens and a minimal memory footprint. See also pocket input method editor.pocket input method editor
A small-sized IME that can support embedded systems without keyboards that have small screens and a minimal memory footprint. See also pocket IME.Power Manager
A framework for managing device power states separately from system power states.project
A file that keeps track of all programs, forms, menus, libraries, reports, labels, queries, and other types of files that are needed to create an application.release directory
The directory where Platform Builder places the completed run-time image, build logs, configuration files, and other files when you build a run-time image based on an OS design. The release directory is the location from which Platform Builder downloads the run-time image to a target device for further debugging and testing.Remote Tools
An SMS/Configuration Manager feature that an SMS/Configuration Manager administrator uses to directly control, monitor, or analyze client computers.run-time image
The final output of the development tools, which is the combination of operating system (OS) binary files, drivers, applications, services, and configuration data typically in the system registry. After deploying to the device, the image can be booted.shell
The command interpreter that is used to pass commands to the operating system.stream interface driver
An interface that exposes stream interface functions and allows applications to work with devices as if they were files. Stream interface drivers receive commands by means of system calls.subproject
A project that is a component of another project.SYSGEN variable
A variable that works with the build system to control the functionality included in an operating system (OS) design. It is used in the OS design configuration files. A SYSGEN variable differs from an environment variable that contains information about an aspect of the OS design, such as a drive, path, or configuration string.system power state
The level of power consumption by the system as a whole. System power states range from S0 to S5, where S0 is the fully-on working state and S5 is the completely powered-down state.target device
The system for which Windows Embedded Compact is being adapted, including the hardware that is accessed by remote tools. In Platform Builder, a target device is the hardware that runs a Platform Builder custom platform.throughput test
A benchmark test that determines the speed of a network connection. Bandwidth tests estimate the downstream and upstream speeds by sending a series of packets over the network and measuring how many packets are received in a given amount of time.transport layer
Layer four of the OSI model. The network layer that handles error recognition and recovery. When necessary, it repackages long messages into small packets for transmission and, at the receiving end, rebuilds packets into the original message. The receiving transport layer also sends receipt acknowledgments.UDN
Name that uniquely identifies a device; a UDN is based on the UUID (universal unique ID).unique device name
Name that uniquely identifies a device; a UDN is based on the UUID (universal unique ID).user mode
The nonprivileged processor mode in which application code, including protected subsystem code, executes. User-mode applications cannot gain access to system data except by calling subsystem-supplied functions, which, in turn, call system services.Windows sockets
An application programming interface (API) standard for software that provides a TCP/IP interface under Windows.