Dr. Melissa Danforth

Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department
California State University, Bakersfield

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CMPS 150 "Introduction to Unix" - Spring 2012
Instructor: Melissa Danforth
Office: Sci III 338, 654-3180
Office Hours: MWF 2:00-3:00pm and MW 4:30-5:30pm (or by appointment)
Email: melissa@cs.csub.edu

Course Dates:

Section 1: Monday April 2 and Wednesday April 4
Section 2: Tuesday April 3 and Thursday April 5

CMPS 150 ONLY meets for the first week of the quarter.

Course Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Course Location: Sci III 240

Course websites are http://www.cs.csubak.edu/cs150/ for assignments and this page for the syllabus.

Tutors: Department Tutoring Center Schedule

Course Description
Basic Unix commands and programming utilities will be introduced. Students will learn how to use email, a text editor, and manage files and directories. This course is designed for students who have no experience with Unix.

This course is a corequisite for CMPS 221. There are no prerequisites.

CMPS 150 introduces you to the basic commands you will need to know to use the Computer Science department servers for your programming courses. Even non-majors who take CMPS 221 should take this course to familiarize yourself with the command-line environment used for CMPS 221.

Computer Science majors are required to take either CMPS 150 or CMPS 215. Computer Science majors are STRONGLY encouraged to take CMPS 215, "Unix Programming Environment". CMPS 215 is a 3 unit, 10 week course offered every Fall Quarter. CMPS 215 goes beyond the scope of this course to teach you how to really get the most out of the Computer Science department servers for programmming. CMPS 215 can also be used for elective credit for the CIS track and is the prerequisite for CMPS 216 "Unix System Administration" which is another CIS track elective.

Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory for this course. You may also arrange to meet with a tutor during tutoring hours to complete the assignments if you cannot make the course meeting times. The tutoring schedule is posted here and will be updated during the first week of the quarter with the tutoring hours for that quarter.

You should attend the first session of the course to pick up your account information sheet, which is needed to complete the course. If you cannot attend the first session, contact the instructor during office hours or Steve Garcia (the department system administrator in Sci III 332) after 2:00pm on the first day of class for your account sheet. You should pick up your account sheet BEFORE your first lab in CMPS 221 if you cannot attend the first session of this course.

If you have previously had an account on the Computer Science servers but cannot remember your password, see Steve Garcia or the instructor for a new password.

Assignments
All assignments for the class are posted on the course website.

CMPS 150 is a credit/no credit class. You must complete the assignments to receive credit, either during the course meeting times or at another time with the tutors. If you do not attend the course meeting times, it is your responsibility to meet with the tutors and have your assignments checked.

To receive credit, you MUST have completed the required labs (either in class or with the tutors) by the last day of classes.

The optional assignment (Lab 3) is STRONGLY recommended for Computer Science and Computer Engineering majors. Some of the syntax may be required in other CEE/CS courses, such as how to make a zip file or tarball. It is easier to learn this syntax with help (the instructor and student assistants can help you with the optional lab) than on your own.

Email Accounts
Your account on the Computer Science department server (Sleipnir) also comes with an email account. Most correspondance for CMPS 221 will happen with your Sleipnir email account. Other faculty in the department will also email your Sleipnir account to communicate with you. You should make a habit of checking your Sleipnir email account each day before class.