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?

  • Nothing. The course is over.

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 exam, open book, worth 150 points
Mon May 8, 1:00-4:00, UC McConomy
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

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fp@cs
Frank Pfenning