This course provides a programmer’s view of how computer systems
execute programs, store information, and communicate. It enables
students to become more effective programmers, especially in dealing
with issues of performance, portability, and robustness. It also
serves as a foundation for courses on compilers, networks, operating
systems, security, and computer architecture, where a deeper
understanding of systems-level issues is required. Topics covered
include: data representations, computer arithmetic, machine-level
code and its generation, performance evaluation and optimization,
memory organization and management, processes and
concurrent computation, and networking technology and protocols.
Prerequisites: CS 54 and 62, or CS 60 and 70.
This class will be offered online in Spring 2021. There will be two recorded lectures each week. Lectures, and the embedded exercises, must be completed before class on Wednesday. See the schedule for details.
Problem sessions will take place synchronously over zoom. There are two sections: one at 9:05-10:20am PT on Wednesdays and one at 2:30-3:45 PT on Wednesdays. Attendence is required, and you are expected to attend your registered session. However, we will waive the attendance requirement for students with logistical concerns that preclude regular attendance at either section (e.g., time zones, network bandwidth, or conflicting commitments); if you would like to have your attendance requirement waived, you must speak to us in advance.
Labs will take place synchronously over zoom. There are two sections: one at 6:00-7:15pm PT on Wednesdays and one at 9:05-10:20am PT on Thursdays. Attendence is required, and you must attend your registered section. However, we will waive the attendance requirement for students with logistical concerns that preclude regular attendance at either section (e.g., time zones, network bandwidth, or conflicting commitments); if you would like to have your attendance requirement waived, you must speak to us in advance.
Eleanor Birrell eleanor.birrell@pomona.edu Edmunds 221 |
Office hours: Mondays 5-7pm PT; Fridays 9-11am PT.
The best way to contact me is by email or on Zulip. I try to respond to all messages within 24 hours. |
|
Michael Greenberg michael.greenberg@pomona.edu Edmunds 225 |
Office hours: Fridays 1:30-3pm PT; Tuesdays 9-11am PT |
Mercy Bickell | Mentor Hours: Lab 2. | |
Ethan Horton | Mentor Hours: Lab 2. | |
Adam Lininger-White | Mentor Hours: Lab 1; Sundays, 2-4pm PT. | |
Jay Rodolitz | Mentor Hours: Thursdays, 7-8pm PT; Sundays, 2-4pm PT. | |
Aden Siebel | Mentor Hours: Mondays, 7-9pm PT. | |
Douglas Webster | Mentor Hours: Thursdays, 6-7pm PT; Saturdays, 10am-noon PT. | |
Eric Zhu | Mentor Hours: Lab 1. |
There will be eleven weekly assignments in CS 105. These assignments
are supposed to be fun and challenging, and they should help you
master the material covered in this course.
However, I have scaled back the assignments from previous
offerings of the class to allow for the additional time commitment
imposed by the online offering of this class.
Assignments will generally be released on Wednesdays and will be due
the following Tuesday at 11:59pm PT. See the
assignment page for details.
The assignments are done in a pair programming paradigm. Adequate
performance on all
the assignments is required to get a passing grade in the course.
Assignments will be started in the laboratory sessions and will be
completed with a partner. It is your
responsibility to complete the assignments and turn them in on time.
You get ten late days that may be used at your discretion to submit
assignments after the deadline with no penalty. Both you and your
partner must spend a late day available to use one. Further
extensions after you have exhausted all your late days will be
granted only in exceptional circumstances.
All laboratory exercises will be done—and graded—on
pom-itb-cs2.campus.pomona.edu, a machine configured for this class.
Everyone registered should have an account when classes begin.
This machine is remotely accessble when connected to the Pomona VPN.
I will try to make assignments compatible with other machines, but
you might encounter some problems if you are unable to connect. If
this becomes a problem for you let me know, and I will make
accomodations as necessary.
There will be one midterm exam and one final exam in this course. The exams will be take-home exams that may be completed any time during the assigned week; you should expect each exam to take approximately two hours.
Finishing all the assignments successfully is required to
pass the class. After that, grades are computed on a point basis, as
follows:
Assignments: 50%
Midterm Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 25%
Participation: 5%
In general, collaboration is encouraged in this course. This means
that you may discuss approaches to solving problems with anyone in
this class, including students, faculty, and TAs. As specified in the
department policy, you may help, or receive help, in using systems
and tools, in debugging code, and in working with high-level design
issues. However, using material from any external source—web page or
person or book—is forbidden. The actual solutions to the laboratory
exercises and the code you submit must be your own and your
partner’s. Except for material from the textbook or lecture, you may
not copy, retype, view, or share a copy of any file. If you have any
questions about what is appropriate or inappropriate collaboration,
please speak with the instructor. When in doubt, credit your sources.
Course materials provided to you, including graded papers and exam
summaries, are for your use in the course. You are encouraged to use
them to the fullest extent, but you are not to publish them or
distribute them to other people or organizations.
We are committed to providing equal opportunity for
participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for
accommodations may be made by contacting the Disability Coordinator
on your home campus. Pomona College’s policy on disability
accommodations can be found at the Dean of Student’s website.
Accommodation forms must be submitted and accommodations agreed upon
by the last day to add classes, or within five days of the date on
which the form was signed by an appropriate dean, whichever comes
later. Many accommodations will be handled through the Student
Disability Resource Center in the Tranquada Student Services Center.