15-213 (18-213): Introduction to Computer Systems (ICS)

Fall 2013
Lecture 1: TR 1:30-2:50, DH 2315, Randy Bryant and Dave O'Hallaron
Lecture 2: TR 6:30-7:50, WeH 7500, Greg Kesden
12 units

The ICS 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.

Course Syllabus

Prerequisites: 15-122


What's New?

  • Wed, Sep 4: Academic Development is offering walk-in tutoring for 15-213 on Tuesdays, 8:30-11:00pm, Mudge Reading Room.

  • Sat, Aug 31: For students who aren't yet enrolled and are still waiting to add in, we've made the datalab handout and writeup available from the schedule page.

Getting Help

Email 15-213-staff@cs.cmu.edu
TA Office Hours Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu: 5:30-8:30pm, WeH 5207, no appt needed
Tutoring Tue, 8:30-11:00pm, Mudge Reading Room, no appt needed

Course Materials

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

For details See the course syllabus for details (below is just a few overview bits).
Lectures TR 1:30-2:50 DH 2315
Recitations [Office hours] Section A: Mon 10:30-11:20, SH 222, Marjorie Carlson [Thu]
Section B: Mon 10:30-11:20, GHC 4211, Tommy Klein [Wed]
Section C: Mon 11:30-12:20, SH 222, Pratik Shah [Mon]
Section D: Mon 12:30-1:20, DH 2105, Anita Zhang [Mon]
Section E: Mon 1:30-2:20, WEH 5403, Ian Hartwig [Thu]
Section F: Mon 1:30-2:20, WEH 5302, Elango Jagadeesan [Sun]
Section G: Mon 2:30-3:20, WEH 5302, Art Chang [Tue]
Section H: Mon 3:30-4:20, WEH 5302, Vishalsai Daswani [Tue]
Section I: Mon 10:30-11:20, WEH 5310, Jane Zeng [Tue]
Section J: Mon 11:30-12:20, WEH 5310, Aakash Sabharwal [Wed]
Section K: Mon 12:30-1:20, WEH 5310, Yixun Xu [Thu]
Section L: Mon 1:30-2:20, WEH 5310, Kunal Desai [Wed]
Section M: Mon 2:30-3:20, PH A22, Vishalsai Daswani [-]
Textbooks Randal E. Bryant and David R. O'Hallaron,
Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, 2011
  Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie,
The C Programming Language, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, 1988
Credit 12 units
Grading Composed from total lab performance (50%) and total exam performance (50%).
Labs There are 7 labs, not evenly weighted. See the assignments page for the breakdown.
Exams There is one midterm exam, online, closed book (20%).
There is a final exam, online, closed book (30%).
Home http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~213
Questions Email to 15-213-staff@cs.cmu.edu. Visit office hours (see above)
Blackboard We are not using Blackboard for this course.
Course Directory /afs/cs/academic/class/15213-f13/

Instructors

Name Randy Bryant Dave O'Hallaron Greg Kesden
Contact randy.bryant@cs.cmu.edu, x8-8821 droh@cs.cmu.edu, x8-8199 gkesden@cs.cmu.edu, x8-1590
Office GHC 5111 GHC 7517 GHC 7711
Office Hours Thu 11am-noon (or by appt) Tue 3:00-4:30 (or by appt) See schedule (or by appt)

Course Assistant

Name Angie Miller
Contact amiller@cs.cmu.edu, 412-268-6645
Office GHC 9129