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 will have links to some useful on-line reading, parts of which you will be expected to read/skim/consult. If you want something hardcopy, the bookstore should have copies of two suitable books:
They're listed as ``recommended'' rather than ``required''; it would be useful to have a copy of either or both, but it is not required.
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/CS3294_2005spring/, or via Tiger's Lair (Blackboard) (http://bb.trinity.edu/).
Any bookstore with a sizable technical-reference section will likely have many introductory books on UNIX or Linux, such as the two mentioned as optional textbooks for the course. The list of references below includes another such book (UNIX for the Impatient), plus an assortment of books about Unix philosophy/culture that 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.
Grades in this course will be determined on the basis of class attendance/participation and several homework assignments, weighted as follows.
| Component | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Homework | about 200 |
| Class participation | 50 |
Numeric grades will be calculated as a simple percentage, by dividing total points earned on the above components by total 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.
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 or religious holiday.
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 projects) must represent the student's own individual effort. For students covered by the Academic Honor Code, unless otherwise stated all submitted work (homework and projects) will be considered pledged work. Discussion of homework assignments and course material among students is encouraged, but not to the point where detailed answers are being written collectively. Graded papers and sample solutions from previous years are off limits. Answers that are identical beyond coincidence (either to another student's work or to a sample solution from a previous year) will be considered to be in violation of Trinity's Academic Integrity Policy or Academic Honor Code, whichever applies, and will result in disciplinary action. You are responsible for the security of your work, both electronic and hard copy.