GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS 367 - Computer Systems and Programming

Spring 2009

Instructors:

Section 001:		Section 002:
	Meets: Friday 1:30 - 4:10, IN 134		Meets: TR 3:00 - 4:15, IN 134
	Instructor: Prof. Pearl Wang		Instructor: Prof. Liz White
	pwang@cs.gmu.edu		white@cs.gmu.edu
	Phone: 703-993-1527		Phone: 703-993-1586
	Office location: S&T II, Room 430B		Office location: S&T II, Room 429
	Office hours: Fri 10 - 11:30 am		Office hours: Tues & Thurs 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Teaching Assistants:

	Raimi Rufai		Xiaohui Yang
	rrufai@gmu.edu		xyang3@gmu.edu
	Office location: ST 2, Room 365		Office location: ST 2, Room 330
	Office hours: Wed 5 - 7 pm		Office hours: Thurs 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Description

This course provides an introduction to computer systems from a programmer's perspective. Topics include machine-level representation of data and programs, linking and loading, processes, virtual memory and memory allocation.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

Demonstrate an ability to design and implement C programs.
Demonstrate knowledge of computer arithmetic and logic operations and representations of data at the machine-level.
Demonstrate knowledge of machine-level representations of (C) programs.
Demonstrate an ability to use debuggers.
Demonstrate an understanding of object file linking and related ideas such as relocatable object files and symbol resolution.
Demonstrate an understanding of the idea of a process, how processes are created and laid out in memory, how processes use virtual memory, and how they are manipulated via interrupts, signals, and context switches.

Prerequisite

Grade of C or better in ECE 303, 331, or 445. (Same as 2007 prerequisites.)

Readings

The required textbook for this class is Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Randal Bryant and David O'Hallaron (Prentice Hall, 2003). A reference text for the C programming language is the classic Kernighan and Ritchie book The C Programming Language (2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1988).

Course Outline

Week 1:	Overview of Computer Systems (Ch 1); Intro to C programming
Week 2:	Programming in C (cont'd)
Week 3	Programming in C (cont'd)
Week 4	Representing & Manipulating Information (Ch 2)
Week 5:	Ch 2 (contd);
Week 6:	Machine-level Representation of Programs (Ch 3)
Week 7:	Ch 3 (cont'd)
Week 8	Ch 3 (cont'd)
Week 9:	Ch 3 (cont'd)
Week 10	Ch 3 (cont'd)
Week 11:	Linking (Ch 7)
Week 12:	Exceptional Control Flow (Ch 8)
Week 13	Ch 8 (cont'd)
Week 14:	Virtual Memory (Ch 10)
Week 15:	Review

Grading

The grade for the course will be based on the following components:
      (i)   Homework Assignments (15%)
      (ii) Lab Assignments (35%)
      (iii) Mid-term exam (25%)
      (iv) Final exam (25%)

All exams are closed book.

Programming Assignments

There will be two C programming assignments and three to four labs. The relative weight for each assignment is based on the amount of effort that is required. You may work in a group of up to two students on these assignments.

You are expected to abide by the University's honor code and the CS Department's Honor Code and Academic Integrity Policies during the semester. Any violation of the honor code will result in an F for the class.

Class Home Page

All handouts and other course material will be available at the following locations:

367 home page for Section 001 (Dr. Wang) and

367 home page for Section 002 (Dr. White).

Computer Accounts

If you're planning to use the computers on campus for doing your projects, please obtain an IT&E labs account. Even if you are using your own computer, your programs need to execute correctly on the Linux computers in the IT&E lab since that system will be used while grading your projects.

If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.

Calendars

GMU Academic Calendar | GMU Final Exam Schedule | Calendar of Religious Holidays

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE