COP-3402 Systems Software
Syllabus

Table of Contents

Course Details

Course COP-3402 Systems Software
School University of Central Florida
Semester Fall 2024 (08/19–12/07)
Section 001
Prerequisites CDA 3103C and COP 3502C each with a grade of C (2.0) or better
Lectures Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1200–1320, 08/20–11/26 (inclusive)
Location PSY 0108
Final Thursday, December 5th, 1000–1250
Instructor Paul Gazzillo paul.gazzillo@ucf.edu
TAs Brent Pappas, Sanan Hasanov
Graders Fabian Ruiz Delgado, Rahul Ghosh

Labs

Dates Personnel Day Time Location
08/30–11/22 Brent Friday 0930–1020 CB1 O120
08/30–11/22 Brent Friday 1030–1120 CB1 O320
08/30–11/22 Brent Friday 1130–1220 CB1 O320
08/30–11/22 Brent Friday 1230–1320 CB1 O320

Office hours

Dates Personnel Day Time Location
08/26-11/26 Paul Tuesday 1330–1430 HEC-239
08/26-11/26 Paul Wednesday 1030–1130 HEC-239
08/26-11/26 Sanan Monday 1030–1130 ENG2-237
08/26-11/26 Sanan Thursday 1030–1130 ENG2-237
Exam Week Paul TBD TBD HEC-239

Schedule

            Project Project
# Date Topic Video Board HW Assigned Due
1 08/20 Introduction video   hw1    
2 08/22 The file system video board hw2    
    Using the command-line          
3 08/27 Navigation (audio) video board hw3    
4 08/29 Processes video board hw4    
5 09/03 Advanced processes video board hw5    
    Programming environment          
6 09/05 Editor video   hw6 hello  
7 09/10 Building, testing, and debugging video board hw7    
8 09/12 Version control video board hw8    
    Systems programming          
9 09/17 Using files video board hw9 myls hello
10 09/19 Process creation video   hw10   hello
11 09/24 Process I/O video board hw11    
  09/26 Classes cancelled\(\ddagger\)          
12 10/01 Building a shell video board   mysh  
13 10/03 Midterm Review video       myls
  10/08 Classes cancelled††          
  10/10 Classes cancelled††          
    Compiler foundations          
14 10/15 Source code to running program video board hw12    
    Functions, the C runtime          
15 10/17 Midterm Exam          
    Compiler foundations          
16 10/22 Parsing video board hw13 calc  
17 10/24 Intermediate language video board hw14   mysh
    Compiler implementation          
18 10/29 Functions     hw15   calc
19 10/31 Function calls     hw16 codegen1  
20 11/05 Local variables     hw17    
21 11/07 Function parameters     hw18 codegen2  
22 11/12 Arithmetic     hw19    
23 11/14 Branching     hw20 codegen3 codegen1
24 11/19 Pointer ref and deref     hw21    
25 11/21 Pointer assignment       codegen4 codegen2
    Bringing it all together          
26 11/26 Final exam review          
    Special topic: TBD          
  11/28 No class: Thanksgiving          
Final 12/05 Final exam (1000–1250)         codegen3
Projects 12/09 All projects due 11:59pm         codegen4

† hello project due date moved back due to brief eustis outage

\(\ddagger\) UCF suspends classes due to Hurricane Helene risk. All course lectures, assignments, homeworks, and mid-term moved up in the schedule, while the "Bringing it all together" lecture will be removed to compensate.

†† UCF suspends classes due to Hurricane Milton risk. All course lectures, assignments, homeworks, and mid-term moved up in the schedule, while the two "Functions" lectures will be merged and the "Special topics" lecture will be removed to compensate.

Assignments

Categories

Category Number Points (pt) per Assignment Total Points (pt) per Category
Homework 24x 1pt 24pt
Projects 8x 6pt 48pt
Midterm 1x 8pt 8pt
Final 1x 16pt 16pt
Participation 1x 4pt 4pt
TOTAL     100pt

All assignments are individual assignments. Please see Core Policy Statements for policies about academic integrity.

Homework

  • Due before the following lecture at 11:59 AM (in the morning before the noon lecture).
    • If an exam or exam review is the next class, then the due date is the following regular lecture.
    • For example, if homework 15 (hw15) is assigned in lecture 17 on 10/15 then it would be due the following lecture (18) on 10/17 by 11:59 AM.
  • Submit via webcourses.
  • Graded for genuine effort, not 100% accuracy.
  • Homework answers are reviewed in the following lecture, so late homework receives 0pt.

Projects

  • Due on the date in the schedule by the end of day Orlando time, i.e., 11:59 PM
  • Must make an initial submission by the due date
    • No submission by the due date results in 0pt with no opportunity for resubmission
  • Submitted projects can also be resubmitted any time up until the final exam 12/09 for a one-time late penalty of 0.5pt deduction per project
  • Examples:
    • A student submits the myls project on 10/03, after the due date. The project receives a 0 with no opportunity to resubmit
    • A students submits the myls project on 10/01 by the due date. The projects recieves only 2 out of 6pt. The student resubmits a fully-working project on 11/19 and gets 5.5 out of 6pt, full credit minus the 0.5pt late penalty.
    • A student submits a fully-working myls project by the due date on 10/01 and gets 6 out of 6pt with no late penalty.
  • Submit via git on eustis

Midterm and Final

  • Material from homework, projects, and lectures
    • Final is cumulative but focused on second-half material
  • In-class review the lecture before the exam
  • Eight double-sided pages (16 total sides, 8 total pages) of reasonably-sized notes
  • Mid-term held during class
  • Final held during finals week

Participation

  • Examples of participation
    • Showing up to class
    • Asking or answering questions during class
    • Participating in class discussions on edstem
    • Seeking help during office hours

Bonus project

  • Listen for project opportunities during lectures or propose a bonus project idea
  • Must demonstrate code and running examples during office hours before the final exam.
  • Up to 6pt
  • See instructor for more details

Letter Grades

A >= 90%, B+ >= 87%, B >= 80%, C+ >= 77%, C >= 70%, D >= 60%, F < 60%. (minuses may be used in some cases)

Logistics

Overview

What Where
Syllabus Website
Lecture notes, videos Website
Homework assignments Website
Project descriptions Website
Project implementation eustis
Project submission git server
Homework submission Webcourses
Questions and discussion Ed Discussion

Computing Requirements

All students will need access to a computer that can connect to eustis to complete course assignments. For students without their own device, UCF provides both computer labs and loaner devices at no additional cost.

Webcourses

eustis

SSH Server Username Password
eustis.eecs.ucf.edu Your NID (ab123456) Your NID password
  • Connect to eustis via ssh:

    ssh NID@eustis.eecs.ucf.edu
    

    where NID is your UCF NID, e.g., ab123456.

  • Enter your NID password. Alternatively, setup an ssh key.

Notes

  • Eustis is only accessible on campus or via VPN.
  • Do not use eustis3 as you won't be able to access the git server.

External guides

(Links are for informational purposes only and their inclusion is not an endorsement of their content.)

git server

Programming projects will be submitted as git repositories to gitolite3@eustis3.eecs.ucf.edu. Detailed usage instructions will be provided as part of the course.

Ed Discussion

https://edstem.org

You will receive an invitation to join the class discussion board in the second week of classes.

Textbooks

Book eTextbook Link Chapters to Download
21st_century_c.jpg 21st Century C Preface, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
the_linux_programming_interface.jpg The Linux Programming Interface 2, 3, 4, 6, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 44

Download Instructions from UCF Libraries

The digital versions of the course textbooks are available for free through the UCF Libraries. Accessing the textbook requires that you authenticate (log in) with your NID. You are permitted to read the textbook online and/or download content to read offline. If PDF downloads are available for your book, this method is recommended to ensure uninterrupted access to the content. Any unauthorized sharing of the textbook content is in violation of the license agreement between the publisher and university. The license permits access to this textbook for current UCF students, staff, and faculty only. Contact your librarian if you have any questions.

textbook_instructions.png

Notice in the first circle that it tells you how many PDF pages can be downloaded per day. It starts at 164 per day, then resets after 24 hours.

Scroll down and see the next circled area. This is where you find the Download PDF links. Do those. Do NOT do the "Read Online" or "Download Book" options on the left (as these options prevent other students from using the eBook).

Thanks to Lily Dubach for getting students book access and providing the instructions above.

Course Information

Description

This course overviews the use and creation of systems software: file systems; the command-line interface; use of processes and files; the programming environment; use of build systems, editors, and version control; systems programming; compilers.

Learning Outcomes

This course will provide students an understanding of how systems software is used, design, and built. By the end of the course, students should undertand the file system, be conversant in the command-line, learn the unix philosophy of systems programming, be familiar with GNU/Linux development toolchain, and have first-hand experience building systems software, including a shell and a compiler.

Labs

  • Labs provide additional support and content to ensure student success this semester and will provide
    • Further detail about concepts covered in lecture
    • Introduction to some content not shown in lecture
    • Lecture Review
    • Additional time for Q&A at the end of lab

Core Policy Statements

Unauthorized Assistance with Coursework

Receiving a work product (e.g., a homework paper or code submitted in response to an assignment) from other individuals (other students in the course, former students, tutors, etc.) is considered "Unauthorized assistance". Giving such a work product to other individuals, either willfully or through negligence, is considered "Helping another violate academic behavior standards." Copying a work product from submissions from past semesters, or copying from an online repository is considered "Plagiarism." You are allowed to discuss class materials and high level concepts related to the assignment with others. However, you must work individually when creating the work product. For programming assignments, you must design algorithms, data structures, and develop code individually. Any violation to the above is considered Academic Integrity Violation. Students found to be in violation of academic integrity will be reported to the Office of Integrity and Ethical Development, in addition to receiving a zero grade on their assignments. Following the report, The Office may conduct hearing, and if found in violation, a student may receive penalties, up to and including dismissal from the university. Unless stated explicitly as team/group assignments, students should assume that assignments are to be performed individually, or ask the instructor for explicit clarification.

Academic Integrity

The Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action. http://academicintegrity.org/

UCF Creed: Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core values that guide our conduct, performance, and decisions.

  1. Integrity: I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.
  2. Scholarship: I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the UCF community.
  3. Community: I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.
  4. Creativity: I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.
  5. Excellence: I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.

The following definitions of plagiarism and misuse of sources come from the Council of Writing Program Administrators http://wpacouncil.org/node/9 and have been adopted by UCF's Department of Writing & Rhetoric.

Plagiarism

In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else's language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledg­ing its source. This definition applies to texts published in print or on-line, to manuscripts, and to the work of other student writers.

Misuse of Sources

A student who attempts (even if clumsily) to identify and credit his or her source, but who misuses a specific citation format or incorrectly uses quotation marks or other forms of identifying material taken from other sources, has not plagiarized. Instead, such a student should be considered to have failed to cite and document sources appropri­ately.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

UCF faculty members have a responsibility for your education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and when necessary respond to infringements of academic integrity. Penalties can include a failing grade in an assignment or in the course, suspension or expulsion from the university, and/or a "Z Designation" on a student's official transcript indicating academic dishonesty, where the final grade for this course will be preceded by the letter Z. For more information about the Z Designation, see http://goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/zgrade.

For more information about UCF's Rules of Conduct, see http://www.osc.sdes.ucf.edu/.

Unauthorized Use of Class Materials

There are many fraudulent websites claiming to offer study aids to students but are actually cheat sites. They encourage students to upload course materials, such as test questions, individual assignments, and examples of graded material. Such materials are the intellectual property of instructors, the university, or publishers and may not be distributed without prior authorization. Students who engage in such activity are in violation of academic conduct standards and may face penalties.

Unauthorized Use of Class Notes

Faculty have reported errors in class notes being sold by third parties, and the errors may be contributing to higher failure rates in some classes. The following is a statement appropriate for distribution to your classes or for inclusion on your syllabus:

Third parties may be selling class notes from this class without my authorization. Please be aware that such class materials may contain errors, which could affect your performance or grade. Use these materials at your own risk.

In-Class Recording Policy

Outside of the notetaking and recording services offered by Student Accessibility Services, the creation of an audio or video recording of all or part of a class for personal use is allowed only with the advance and explicit written consent of the instructor. Such recordings are only acceptable in the context of personal, private studying and notetaking and are not authorized to be shared with anyone without the separate written approval of the instructor.

Course Accessibility Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need specific access in this course, such as accommodations, should contact the professor as soon as possible to discuss various access options. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (Ferrell Commons, 7F, Room 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone (407) 823-2371). Through Student Accessibility Services, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential access and accommodations that might be reasonable.

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise in our class, we will all need to work together. Everyone should be aware of the surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

  • In case of an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.
  • Every UCF classroom contains an emergency procedure guide posted on a wall near the door. Please make a note of the guide's physical location and consider reviewing the online version at http://emergency.ucf.edu/emergency_guide.html.
  • Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes from each of your classrooms and have a plan for finding safety in case of an emergency. (Insert class-specific details if appropriate)
  • If there is a medical emergency during class, we may need to access a first aid kit or AED (Automated External Defibrillator). To learn where those items are located in this building, see http://www.ehs.ucf.edu/AEDlocations-UCF (click on link from menu on left). (insert class specific information if appropriate)
  • To stay informed about emergency situations, sign up to receive UCF text alerts by going to my.ucf.edu and logging in. Click on "Student Self Service" located on the left side of the screen in the tool bar, scroll down to the blue "Personal Information" heading on your Student Center screen, click on "UCF Alert", fill out the information, including your e-mail address, cell phone number, and cell phone provider, click "Apply" to save the changes, and then click "OK."
  • If you have a special need related to emergency situations, please speak with me during office hours.
  • Consider viewing this video (https://youtu.be/NIKYajEx4pk) about how to manage an active shooter situation on campus or elsewhere.

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

If you are a deployed active duty military student and feel that you may need a special accommodation due to that unique status, please contact your instructor to discuss your circumstances.

Author: Paul Gazzillo

Created: 2024-10-24 Thu 14:38

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