15-213 Introduction to Computer Systems

Spring 2006

Frank Pfenning

Lecture, TuTh 9:00-10:20, WeH 7500

12 units

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, and computer architecture, where a deeper understanding of systems-level issues is required. Topics covered include: machine-level code and its generation by optimizing compilers, performance evaluation and optimization, computer arithmetic, memory organization and management, networking technology and protocols, and supporting concurrent computation.

Prerequisites: 15-113 System Skills in C, and 15-211 Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms

What's New?

(2/10) Lab 1 has been graded, instructor evaluations entered in Autolab, and total scores posted on Blackboard. Please direct questions to your TA.
(2/7) We have been informed that recitations will move, from Mon Mar 20 until the end of the semester, into WeH 5312 because the OSC will be torn down in site preparation for the new Gates Center.
(2/7) Exam 1 on Tue Feb 28 will be during lecture time, but in two rooms: WeH 7500 for Sections A, B, C and DH 2210 for Sections D, E, F. Make sure you go to the right room on that date.
(2/5) Updated gdb reference for x86-64 architecture.
(2/5) A clarification of the quiz policy with respect to the use of calculators and computers has been posted on the Exams page.
(2/5) Correct answers to the on-line quizzes can be accessed two days after the quiz is due by following the link to the quiz in Blackboard. You should go back to make sure you understand the correct answers.
(2/3) Quiz 2 will be available after Mon Feb 6, 4:30pm and must be started by Tue Feb 7 11:30pm. Policies and conditions are the same as for the first quiz.
(2/2) Lab 2 is available; due Tue Feb 14 11:59pm.
(1/20) Some supplementary materials about the x86-64 architecture written by the textbook authors have been made available on the Resources page.

Course Material

Schedule	Lecture schedule, slides, recitation notes, readings, and code
Assignments	Details of assignments, due dates, and policies
Exams	Information about quizzes, exams, and final
Lab Machines	Instructions for using the lab machines
Resources	Additional course resources

Course Information

Lectures	TuTh 9:00-10:20, WeH 7500
Recitations	Section A, Mon 10:30-11:20, OSC 203, Yongjun Jeon Section B, Mon 11:30-12:20, OSC 203, Naju Mancheril Section C, Mon 12:30-1:20, OSC 203, Colin Rothwell Section D, Mon 1:30-2:20, OSC 203, Kevin Bowers Section E, Mon 2:30-3:20, OSC 203, Matus Telgarsky Section F, Mon 3:30-4:20, OSC 203, Jernej Barbic
Textbooks	Randal E. Bryant and David R. O'Hallaron, Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, Prentice Hall, 2003 (The authors are donating the royalties from CMU book sales to CMU, to be used for CMU undergraduates)
	Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie, The C Programming Language, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1988
Credit	12 units
Grading	60% Labs(7), 10% Quizzes(7+1), 15% Midterm Exams(2), 15% Final Exam
Labs	There are 7 labs worth a total of 600 points
Quizzes	There are 8 quizzes on Blackboard, 15 points each The lowest score is dropped, so the total is 100 (+5 extra) points.
Midterms	There are 2 midterm exams, in class, open book Exam 1, Ch 1-6, 75 points Tue Feb 28, 9:00-10:20, WeH 7500 (Secs A,B,C) and DH 2210 (Secs D,E,F), Exam 2, Ch 7-8,10-11, 75 points Tue Apr 11, 9:00-10:20, WeH 7500 (Secs A,B,C) and DH 2210 (Secs D,E,F)
Final	There is a final, open book, worth 150 points TBA
Home	http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~fp/courses/15213-s06/
Newsgroup	news:cmu.cs.class.cs213 Usually checked at least once a day For faster turnaround, e-mail the teaching assistants
Blackboard	http://www.cmu.edu/blackboard/ Used only for tracking of grades and on-line quizzes
Directories	/afs/cs.cmu.edu/academic/class/15213-s06/

Instructor

	Frank Pfenning
Contact	fp@cs or x8-6343
Office	Wean Hall 8117
Office Hours	Wed 2:30-3:30

Teaching Assistants

Contact Recitation Office Hours

Yongjun Jeon yongjunj@andrew.cmu.edu Section A
Mon 10:30-11:20, OSC 203 Wed 4:40-6:30
Wean Cluster

Naju Mancheril ngm@andrew.cmu.edu Section B
Mon 11:30-12:20, OSC 203 Fri 3:00-5:00
Wean Cluster

Colin Rothwell crothwel@andrew.cmu.edu Section C
Mon 12:30-1:20, OSC 203 Tue 3:00-5:00
Wean Cluster

Kevin Bowers kbowers@cs.cmu.edu Section D
Mon 1:30-2:20, OSC 203 Thu 4:30-6:30
Wean Cluster

Matus Telgarsky mtelgars@andrew.cmu.edu Section E
Mon 2:30-3:20, OSC 203 Mon 6:00-8:00
Wean Cluster

Jernej Barbic barbic@cs.cmu.edu Section F
Mon 3:30-4:20, OSC 203 Mon 4:30-6:30
WeH 3703

Course Assistant

	Jennifer Landefeld
Contact	jennsbl@cs.cmu.edu
Office	Wean Hall 8120

fp@cs
Frank Pfenning