CSCE 510: System Programming

 

Catalog Description:

510—System Programming. (3) (Prereq: CSCE 245) System software such as command language interpreters, client-server applications, debuggers, mail systems, browsers, macro-processors, and revision control systems; file systems, processes, threads, and inter-process communication.

 

Prerequisite(s) By Topic:

Introductory programming and data structures

Logical operations

 

Textbook(s) and Other Required Material:

Linux Application Development, Johnson and Troan, Addison-Wesley, 1998.

A C or C++ reference book

            Alternative Textbooks:

Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment, W. Richard Stevens, Addison-Wesley, 1992

Unix Systems Programming, 2nd Edition, K. F. Haviland and B. Salama, Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts, 1997.

 

Computing Platform: SUN/Solaris

 

Course Objectives: {Assessment Methods Shown in Braces}

1.       Demonstrate mastery of the internal operation of Unix system software including assemblers, loaders, macro-processors, command language interpreters, inter-process communication. {tests}

2.       Develop medium to large C/C++ programs in a Unix Environment utilizing the C preprocessor, the debugger (gdb), make, source code revision systems (sccs), etc. {programming assignments, tests}

 

Topics Covered:

1.   Introduction to systems software. (1)

2.   File Systems: directory structures, files, the stat system call, system data files (7)

3.   Processes: arguments, environments, memory allocation, creation, threads (7)

4.   Interprocess communication: signals, pipes, semaphores, shared memory, sockets (12)

5.   System Software Implementation including: macro-processors, editors, terminal handling, software development tools: make, sccs, debuggers, library management: loaders, archivers, tar, compression software, command language interpreters: shells, mail systems: pine, client-server applications: browsers. (12)

 

Laboratory Projects:

Four to five fairly extensive programming projects.

 

Syllabus Flexibility: Medium.  The Undergraduate Committee approves the choice of textbook and syllabus. 

 

Relationship of Course to Program Outcomes:

The contribution of each course objective to meeting the program outcomes is indicated with the scale:
3 = major contributor, 2 = moderate contributor, 1 = minor contributor.  Blank if not related.










Course Objectives

Program Outcomes

1. Logic & Math

2. Computing Fundamentals

3. Apply Computing Principles

4. Work on teams

5. Communicate Effectively

6. Liberal arts & Soc. Sciences

7. Basic Science and Lab Procedures

8. Learn New Tools & Processes

9. Employed upon Graduation

10. Application Area

11. Electronics and Digital Sys Design

1. Demonstrate mastery Unix System Software

 

1

2

 

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

2. Develop medium to large C/C++ programs in a Unix Environment

 

 

3

1

 

 

 

3

2

 

 

 

Estimated CSAB Category Content:

Algorithms:                                                     0

Data Structures:                                              0

Software Design:                                            2 hrs

Concepts of Programming Languages               0

Organization and Architecture                          1 hr

 

Oral and Written Communication: none

 

Social and Ethical Issues: none

 

Theoretical Content:

Some concurrency, semaphores

 

Analysis and Design:

Development of several large programs

 

Class/Laboratory Schedule:

Lecture:  3 periods of 50 minutes or 2 periods of 75 minutes per week

 

Difference between Undergraduate and Graduate Work:

Students enrolled for graduate credit will have to do more difficult assignments and will have more difficult examinations to justify the receipt of graduate credit for this course.

  

Course Coordinator: Manton Matthews

 

Modification and Approval History:

Initial description, November 2000

Revised July 2002 to include statement on graduate work.