CSW3101-01 General Information

 
Instructor:	Tobias H. Hoellerer
Class Hours:	Mon/Wed 6:10-7:25pm
Class Location:	327 Mudd Bldg.
Office Hours:	Friday 10-12 AM or by appointment
Office:  	720 Computer Science, 939-7116
e-mail:		htobias@cs.columbia.edu

Course Description

Programming Languages(C) (W3101-01) is a first course in C programming. However, prior programming experience is assumed.

From the course catalog description for 3101:

Introduction to a programming language. Each section is devoted to a specific language. Intended only for those who are already fluent in at least one programming language.

This is a five-week course and will meet from Wednesday, January 22nd, 1996 to Monday, February 24th, 1997 (10 classes).

Texts

[IACU] Wang, Paul 1992 An Introduction to ANSI C on Unix, Wadsworth.
[TCPL] Kernigham Brian, Ritchie Dennis 1988 The C Programming Language, Prentice Hall

Only [IACU} is required. Both are available at Papyrus Bookstore (Broadway at 114th Street). Reserve copies are placed at the Engineering library as well.

Course Requirements and Grading

There will be four homework assignments and one final exam. The weights will be (15%,20%,20%,20%) for the homeworks and 25% for the final.

Homework assignments are handed out each Wednesday and are due one week later at the BEGINNING of the class. There are no extensions; however, partial credit will be considered for all incomplete work. Assignments cannot be accepted after answers have been made available.

If you disagree with a grade, submit your grievance in writing to the grader responsible, documenting the merits of your case.

The final exam will be given on the last day of class, Monday, February 24th, 1997. It will be a closed-book exam.

Programming Policy

You will need an AcIS computer account. All programming may be developed in C on any machine. However, the programs must run on AcIS machines. Only those programs submitted electronically from the AcIS machines by the procedure to be announced will be accepted and graded.

It is critically important that all submitted program listings and executions be thoroughly documented. Further, all documentation must be internal (included in the comments of the C source file). Good programming style will account for a substantial portion of the grade assigned to the programming assignments.

Make sure you provide adequate test cases to indicate the correcteness and robustness of your approaches.

Homework Submissions

For each assignment, you are required to make two homework submissions. The first is a hardcopy (paper) submission to be handed to the instructor at the beginning of the class the assignment is due. The second is an electronic submission. An additional handout to be given out next class describes how to submit your assignments from an AcIS account. Note that both submissions must occur by the deadline on the due date.

The hardcopy (paper) submissions of your assignments will be used to write comments and make corrections to your programs and will be returned to you. The electronic submissions will be used to test your programs.

Class Homepage

A class homepage http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~htobias/W3101-1 has been created for class use. This will be the primary means of electronic announcements including corrections, hints, and extensions. Copies of all handouts, including homework assignments and solutions will be made available through this resource.

Class Newsgroup

A class newsgroup columbia.spring.cs3101-sec1 has been created for class use. You are encouraged to use this resource as a forum for discussion of your projects (see the section on collaboration with other students).

Office Hours

The instructor will be available during office hours and also through e-mail.

Collaboration

  Discussion of material covered in class is strongly encouraged. It is acceptable to help or receive help from other students concerning features of the operating system or any of the other software programs you will be using for your projects. However, the work you submit must be your own work, no group work is permitted in this class. There is a line between discussion and cheating and this line will be enforced. Refer to the Computer Science Department handout for exact details.

Open Door Policy

We would like the course to run smoothly and enjoyably. Feel free to let us know what you find just, good and interesting about the course. Let us know sooner about the reverse. See us, leave us a note, or send up e-mail.