Course Overview

This course will provide a broad, programmer-oriented introduction to how modern computer systems execute programs, store information, and communicate. We examine the hardware and software abstractions and implementations required to go from a program expressed in a high-level programming language like C to the computer actually running the program. Topics include concepts of program compilation and assembly, machine code, data representation and computer arithmetic, caching and the memory hierarchy, processes, and system-level I/O.

Primary course goals include:

• To understand how programs are executed by computers (including key abstractions and their implementations underlying program execution).
• To grasp how these implementations impact the correctness, performance, and security of real-world programs.
• To gain proficiency in practical skills of systems and programming, including debugging, command-line environments, and managing memory.
• To build foundational knowledge for further study of many fields of computer science, such as operating systems, networks, distributed systems, programming languages, and computer architecture.

Prerequisites

CSCI 2101 (Data Structures). Prior knowledge of C is not required or expected.

People

Instructor: Sean Barker
Office: Searles 220
Phone: 207-798-4220
Email:
Office Hours: Monday 2-3, Thursday 11-1, Friday 11-12, or by appointment.
I am generally unavailable to meet on Wednesdays (though still reachable via email).

TAs: (drop-in lab hours in Searles 224)
Pauline Unietis (pmunieti): Sunday 6-8 PM
George Benz (gbenz): Tuesday 6-8 PM
Jack Beckitt-Marshall (jbeckitt): Wednesday and Thursday 6-8 PM

Course Requirements

Attendance and participation during class and lab sessions, completion of lab assignments, and two exams (one midterm and a final). Evaluation will be as follows:

• Exams: 50%
• Labs: 50%
• Participation/engagement: tiebreaker

Labs will be a mix of individual and group assignments. These assignments will demand a significant time commitment on your part, and it is critical that you start working early!

You will have 3 flex days to submit projects late without penalty during the semester, which may be allocated however you wish. Beyond the use of your flex days, late assignments will be penalized a letter grade per day.

Discussion Forum

We will use Piazza to facilitate discussion outside of class. In general, you should prefer posting to Piazza over sending me email, as it will allow your classmates to both see and answer your questions, possibly quicker than I alone can (though you can also post privately such that only I can see your question).

Here is the CSCI 2330 Piazza page.

Textbook

There is one primary textbook that you should acquire:

R. Bryant and D. O'Hallaron. Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, 3rd edition (2015). Available at Amazon or elsewhere.

Note: you must use the 3rd edition; earlier editions are substantially different and will not suffice.

In addition, you may wish (but are not required) to acquire a good reference on the C programming language. Recommended is the gold standard of C programming books:

B. Kernighan and D. Ritchie. The C Programming Language, 2nd edition (1988). Available at Amazon or elsewhere.

Class Information

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 8:30 AM - 9:55 AM
Searles 223 (all meetings)

Although Friday is nominally designated as "lab", we will adjust as needed by the schedule. Attendance at all class meetings is expected.

Exams

• Midterm Exam: Tuesday, October 22 (in class)
• Final Exam: Monday, December 16, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Searles 223

Electronic Device Policy

Use of laptops in-class is permitted for note-taking or other class-related purposes. Cell phones should be silenced and put away during class to avoid disruptions.

No electronic devices, including computers, phones, or calculators, are permitted during exams unless specifically indicated by the instructor.

Collaboration Policy and Honor Code

Please review the Computer Science Collaboration Policy. You are responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to this policy.