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

Fall 2011
Lecture 1: TR 1:30-2:50, DH 2315, Dave O'Hallaron and Greg Ganger
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 or 15-123


What's New?

  • Dec 19: The solution for the final exam is available on the exams page.

Getting Help

Email 15-213-staff@cs.cmu.edu
Office Hours Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu: 5:30-8:30pm WeH 5207

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, WEH 5302, Jim Cipar [Tue]
Section B: Mon 10:30-11:20, WEH 6423, Steven Fackler [Tue]
Section C: Mon 11:30-12:20, WEH 5302, Taerim Kim [Mon]
Section D: Mon 12:30-1:20, WEH 5302, Pranav Senthilnathan [Sun]
Section E: Mon 1:30-2:20, GHC 5222, Pablo Chavez [Thu]
Section F: Mon 1:30-2:20, DH 1211, Lin Xiao [Mon]
Section G: Mon 2:30-3:20, WEH 5310, Kevin Su [Thu]
Section H: Mon 3:30-4:20, PH 125C, Adrian Trejo [Thu]
Section I: Mon 10:30-11:20, GHC 4102, Gennady Pekhimenko [Wed]
Section J: Mon 11:30-12:20, WEH 4709, Serene Han [Wed]
Section K: Mon 12:30-1:20, PH A20, Rohan Aletty [Mon]
Section L: Mon 1:30-2:20, PH A18B, Alex Malyshev [Wed]
Section M: Mon 2:30-3:20, WEH 5409, Abhay Buch [Sun]
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, in class, closed book (20%).
There is a final exam, in class, 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-f11/

Instructors

Name Dave O'Hallaron Greg Ganger Greg Kesden
Contact droh@cs.cmu.edu, x8-8199 ganger@ece.cmu.edu, x8-1297 gkesden@cs.cmu.edu, x8-1590
Office GHC 9125 CIC 2208 GHC 7711
Office Hours Tue 3:00-5:00 (or by appt) Thurs 3:30-4:30 (or by appt) Schedule

Course Assistant

  Laura McGee
Contact lmcgee@andrew.cmu.edu, 412-268-5568
Office ECE Course Management Hub (HH D-200)
Exams Laura will have copies of all uncollected exams in her office.