In CSCI 1320 (PAD I) we introduce students to the basics of traditional UNIX command-line tools. These tools may seem clunky and primitive compared to the GUI-based tools students are more apt to be familiar with. But behind the clunky-seeming interface there is a lot of power and flexibility, in part because this traditional environment includes a number of ``power tools'' that can be great timesavers for the not-so-novice user. In this course we will look at some of these tools and also at the underlying UNIX philosophy/culture.
The following are some topics we will discuss; others will be included as time and students' interests permit.
There is no required textbook for this course. The course Web page has links to some useful on-line reading, parts of which you will be expected to read/skim/consult.
If you want something hardcopy, any bookstore with a sizable technical-reference section will likely have many introductory books on UNIX or Linux. The list of references below includes two (UNIX for the Impatient and Think UNIX). (The remaining books on this list are more oriented toward Unix philosophy/culture and make for interesting reading.) If you like the O'Reilly ``In a Nutshell'' books, you may want to acquire UNIX in a Nutshell or Linux in a Nutshell. O'Reilly also publishes many books on UNIX-related tools, which are good to have on one's bookshelf as one's interests and finances dictate.
Most course-related information (this syllabus, homework and reading assignments, etc.) will be made available via the World Wide Web. The course Web page is a starting point for Web-accessible course material; you can find it linked from my home page (http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~bmassing), directly at http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~bmassing/Classes/CS3190_2004spring/, or via Tiger's Lair (http://bb.trinity.edu/).
Grades in this course will be determined on the basis of class attendance/participation, homeworks, and a project, weighted as follows.
| Component | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Homework | about 200 |
| Project | about 50 |
| Class participation | 50 |
Revised 3/29/2004: No project will be required, and the total points for homework will be about 100.
Numeric grades will be calculated as a simple percentage, by dividing points earned on the above components by maximum points. These numeric grades will then be converted to letter grades based on a curve, but in no case will the resulting letter grades be worse than students would receive based on the following scheme.
| Numeric grade | Letter grade |
|---|---|
| 90 - 100 | A |
| 80 - 89 | B |
| 70 - 79 | C |
| 60 - 69 | D |
| 0 - 59 | F |
There will be frequent short homework assignments. Detailed requirements will be provided as part of each assignment, and due dates will be announced via the course Web page.
Each student will also complete a modest-size project. Detailed requirements and due dates will be announced later in the course.
Revised 3/29/2004: No project is required. However, students can earn up to 30 points of extra credit by completing a suitable project. ``Suitable'' in this context means (1) related to the course and (2) approved by the instructor. The amount of extra credit will depend on the scope and quality of the work turned in; roughly, every 10 points of extra credit should represent successful completion of an amount of work comparable to one of the homework assignments.
Regular class attendance is strongly encouraged; class participation grades will be based largely on attendance.
Course-related announcements will sometimes be made by sending e-mail to the Trinity e-mail addresses of all registered students. Students are strongly encouraged to read mail sent to their Trinity addresses frequently. An archive of such announcements will be provided via the course Web page.
Unless otherwise stated for a particular assignment, homework will be accepted up to one class period late, but no more, at a penalty of 10 percent off per working day. This penalty may be waived or additional time allowed at the instructor's discretion in cases of illness or conflict with a university-sponsored activity.
If you have unusual circumstances (as we all sometimes do), please discuss these with the instructor as far in advance as possible.
Unless otherwise specified, all work submitted for a grade (homework assignments and exams) must represent the student's own individual effort. Discussion of homework assignments and course material among students is encouraged, but not to the point where detailed answers are being written collectively. Answers that are identical beyond coincidence are in violation of Trinity's Academic Integrity Policy and will result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, a failing grade on that assignment for all parties involved. You are responsible for the security of your work, both electronic and hard copy.