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

Summer 2020
15-213/18-213 Lecture 1: TWRF 12:00-1:20, GHC 4215, Brian Railing
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


Getting Help

Piazza Piazza
Office Hours Held online in Zoom
Office hour specifics can be found here.

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 TWRF 12:00-1:20pm Zoom
Textbooks Randal E. Bryant and David R. O'Hallaron,
Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective, Third Edition, Pearson, 2016
  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 (52%), total exam performance (30%), active work (18%).
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 (12%).
There is a final exam, in class, closed book (18%).
Home http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~213
Questions Piazza, office hours, email
Canvas We are using Canvas for this course.
Course Directory /afs/cs/academic/class/15213-m20/

Instructors

Name Brian Railing
Contact bpr@cs.cmu.edu,
x8-3143
Office GHC 6005
Office Hours after lectures (not recitation/OH days):
TBD
(or by appointment)