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15-213/15-513/14-513 Introduction to Computer Systems (ICS)
Fall 2026
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?
- First day of class is Tuesday, Aug 25th.
Getting Help
Course Materials
| Schedule |
Lecture schedule, slides, recitation notes, readings, and code |
| Labs |
Details of the labs, due dates, and policies |
| Assignments |
Details of the written assignments, due dates, and policies |
| Exams |
Information about the midterm and final exams |
| 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 |
See above |
| 15-213 Recitations |
| 15-213 Section A: | Fri 10:00 AM-10:50 AM | WEH 6423 |
| 15-213 Section B: | Fri 10:00 AM-10:50 AM | DH 2105 |
| 15-213 Section C: | Fri 11:00 AM-11:50 AM | WEH 5328 |
| 15-213 Section D: | Fri 11:00 AM-11:50 AM | DH 2105 |
| 15-213 Section E: | Fri 12:00 PM-12:50 PM | WEH 5328 |
| 15-213 Section F: | Fri 12:00 PM-12:50 PM | DH 2105 |
| 15-213 Section G: | Fri 01:00 PM-01:50 PM | WEH 5328 |
| 15-213 Section H: | Fri 01:00 PM-01:50 PM | PH 125B |
| 15-213 Section I: | Fri 02:00 PM-02:50 PM | WEH 5328 |
| 15-213 Section J: | Fri 02:00 PM-02:50 PM | POS 147 |
| 15-213 Section K: | Fri 03:00 PM-03:50 PM | CFA 102 |
| 15-513 Section A: | Fri 10:00 AM-10:50 AM | WEH 6423 |
| 15-513 Section B: | Fri 10:00 AM-10:50 AM | DH 2105 |
| 15-513 Section C: | Fri 11:00 AM-11:50 AM | WEH 5328 |
| 14-513 Section A: | Fri 10:00 AM-10:50 AM | CIC 1201 |
| 14-513 Section B: | Fri 04:00 PM-04:50 PM | CIC 1201 |
| 14-513 Section C: | Fri 01:00 PM-01:50 PM | INI DEC |
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| Textbooks |
Randal E. Bryant and David R. O'Hallaron,
Computer Systems: A
Programmer's Perspective, Third Edition, Pearson, 2016
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Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie,
The C Programming Language, Second Edition, Prentice Hall, 1988
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| Credit |
12 units |
| Grading |
Composed from total lab performance (50%), total written assignment performance (6%), total in-class paper quizzes (4%), midterm exam performance (15%) and final exam performance (25%).
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| Labs |
There are 9 labs (L0-L8), not evenly weighted. See
the labs page for
the breakdown. |
| Exams |
There is a midterm exam, part takehome and part in-class, closed book. There is a final exam, held during exam week, closed book. |
| Home |
https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~213 |
| Questions |
Ed, office hours |
| Canvas |
Canvas will be used (i) to handin written assignments and (ii)
to conduct ungraded, in-class quizzes. Your grading information will be kept up to date
in Autolab, not in Canvas.
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| Course Directory |
/afs/cs/academic/class/15213-f26/ |
Instructors
| Name |
Phillip Gibbons |
Seth Goldstein |
Taha Khan |
| Contact |
gibbons@cs.cmu.edu |
seth@cmu.edu |
mtk2@andrew.cmu.edu |
| Office |
GHC 7221 |
GHC 7111 |
CIC 2324 |
| Office Hours |
Thur 02:00 PM-03:00 PM |
Wed 02:00 PM-03:30 PM |
Tues 02:00 PM-03:00 PM |
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