CS252 Outline

Spring 2024

1 Preamble

Below are the modules that comprise the course content.

Each module includes a mixture of lecture notes for you to read (required) and relevant textbook chapters (optional). Many of the lecture notes include “Try This” activities for you to perform while logged in to one of our Linux servers.

Most modules include at least one assignment that you should attempt to complete before moving on.

KEYS TO SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE:

READ THE SYLLABUS

The syllabus lays out the basic course policies. It tells you what you need to do to earn a passing grade. It tells you when you need to have done that by. It tells you how to get in touch with me if you run into problems.
HAVE A SCHEDULE

You have the freedom to schedule your own time in this course, but you DO need to set up a schedule. Don’t forget that this course exists and that you are registered for it. Don’t think you can repeatedly set it aside for weeks at a time and make up the time later.
- There are 14 assignments in the course.
- There are approximately 14 weeks in a Fall or Spring semester (12 in summer).
- You can easily figure out what kind of pace you should be setting if you want to complete this course.
IF YOU DON"T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, ASK QUESTIONS

In a web course, my role as Instructor changes from “lecturer” to “tutor”. You can ask questions in the course Forums. You can send me email. You can also contact me during office hours. You’ll find more information on these options in the syllabus and other documents on the Course Policies page.

Some people are too shy to ask questions. Some are too proud to ask questions. My advice to both groups is to get over it! Part of being educated is knowing how to exploit your available information resources. In this course, I am one of those resources.
READ THE LECTURE NOTES. DO THE “TRY THIS” EXERCISES.

As a general rule, everything you need to complete the assignments and final exam are contained in the lecture notes and are things that you will practice with in the “Try This” exercises.

The listed textbook readings are optional. Hunting the internet for additional info is possible, but can often lead to more confusion than enlightenment, so you do that at your own risk.

When you read, read attentively. When you do the Try This exercises, be observant to the results you are getting and make sure that you understand them.
- If you consistently find yourself starting the assignments thinking that you are prepared, then get stuck with no idea how to proceed, that’s a good sign that you were not really giving the lecture notes or Try This exercises enough attention.

1 Getting Started

Objectives

Upon completing this section, a student should…

Be familiar with the course layout and policies.
Understand the differences between
- local and remote command sessions
- text-mode and graphics mode sessions
Have set up a CS network account.
Be able to log in to a remote text-mode session on the CS Dept Linux machines.

2 Command Line Interface (CLI) – basics

2.1 Files and Directories

Objectives

Upon completing this section, a student should…

Understand the hierarchical structure of a typical file system.
Understand how paths identify the location of a file.
Recognize the various ways to name their own home directory and those of other account holders.
Understand the difference between relative and absolute paths.
Write both absolute and relative paths to a desired file.
Be able to issue basic commands for creating and listing directories, copying, moving, and viewing the contents of files.