CPSC 3231 Computer Systems 1: Foundations
'No more magic' -- Your Instructor
The full Course Youtube Playlist
Schedule/Road Map
The following is our tentative syllabus for the course, changes should be expected throughout the semester. I will announce in class, piazza, or through e-mail any major changes.
Week
Date
Lecture and Readings
Problem Sets
Note(s)
1
Wednesday, 2026-Sep-02
Module 1
Administrivia, Course Introduction, Systems Overview (Shah)
Administrivia, Course Introduction, Systems Overview (Shah)
- Welcome!
- Administrivia / Syllabus Review
- What is this course about?
- Computer Systems Overview
PSET 01 - (C Review) Released (Due Sept. 13 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Sept. 20 for up to 90%)
(Late Deadline Sept. 20 for up to 90%)
Welcome back to class!
Note: 1st PSET has extra time to accomodate students who add late. Students who add late still need to complete by the deadline shown.
1
Friday, 2026-Sep-04
Module 2
Terminal Overview and Unix Programming Tools (Harry)
Terminal Overview and Unix Programming Tools (Harry)
- Terminal / Shell / Command Line Interface (CLI) - A window to the operating system
- Some tools we will use: Compiler, git, ssh, text editor
- A motivation example with matrix multiply
- Why C? The 'lingua franca' of systems programming
- Some introduction to C
Friday classes do not meet; Monday classes meet instead
Mike Presenting at DConf
1
Monday, 2026-Sep-07
PSET 02 Released - (Instruments) Released (Due Sept. 20 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Sept. 27 for up to 90%)
(Late Deadline Sept. 27 for up to 90%)
No Class; Labor Day
2
Wednesday, 2026-Sep-09
Module 4
C Programming 1 - Memory/Pointers/Arrays/Pass-by-value/Stack/Heap Memory/Virtual (Shah)
C Programming 1 - Memory/Pointers/Arrays/Pass-by-value/Stack/Heap Memory/Virtual (Shah)
- C Programming Review
- Memory
- Pointers
- Arrays
- Pass by Value
- Stack Memory
- Heap Memory
- Virtual Memory Introduction
Add/Drop Period closes Sept. 11 at 5:00pm ET
2
Monday, 2026-Sep-14
Module 5
C Programming Language 2 - Pointers, Strings, and GDB (Shah)
C Programming Language 2 - Pointers, Strings, and GDB (Shah)
- Pointers and Pointer arithmetic
- C Strings
- GDB
3
Wednesday, 2026-Sep-16
Module 6
C Programming 3 - Larger C programs (structs, unions) (Harry)
C Programming 3 - Larger C programs (structs, unions) (Harry)
- How to organize a C project
- C Abstract Machine
- Address Space
Mike at CPPCON.
3
Monday, 2026-Sep-21
Module 7
OS: Memory Allocators 1 (Shah)
OS: Memory Allocators 1 (Shah)
- Memory Overview
- Stack and Heap Overview
- malloc interface
- RAII
- brk/sbrk
- mmap
- strace
PSET 03 Released - Memory Allocator and Performance Analysis (Due Oct. 02 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Oct. 09 for up to 90%)
(Late Deadline Oct. 09 for up to 90%)
4
Wednesday, 2026-Sep-23
Module 8
Memory Allocators 2 (Shah)
Memory Allocators 2 (Shah)
- Dynamic Memory Allocation
- Internal and External Fragmentation
- First-fit, next-fit, and best-fit
- Local and Global Allocators
4
Monday, 2026-Sep-28
Module 9
Modern Systems Programming: D and Memory Safety (Shah)
Modern Systems Programming: D and Memory Safety (Shah)
- The D programming language
- Overview of D as a systems programming langauge
PSET 04 Released - (D language) (Due Oct. 09 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Oct. 16 for up to 90%)
(Late Deadline Oct. 16 for up to 90%)
5
Wednesday, 2026-Sep-30
Module 10
Modern Systems Programming: D and Memory Safety 2 (Shah)
Modern Systems Programming: D and Memory Safety 2 (Shah)
- D Language continued
- Reference Counting in D
- Garbage Collectors
5
Monday, 2026-Oct-05
Module 11
Assembly 1: Machine Instructions, and Reverse Engineering (Harry)
Assembly 1: Machine Instructions, and Reverse Engineering (Harry)
- What happens to our C code?
- Compiler Explorer Example
- Assembly instruction sets
- RISC / CISC
- Reverse Engineering
- Understanding Assembly Instructions - AT&T Syntax x86-64
PSET 05 Released - (Assembly and Binary tools) (Due Oct. 18 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Oct. 23 for up to 90%)
(Late Deadline Oct. 23 for up to 90%)
Fall 2026 - Bomb-athon Oct 16 (See canvas/piazza)
6
Wednesday, 2026-Oct-07
Module 12
Assembly 2: Assembly and Machine Representation (Harry)
Assembly 2: Assembly and Machine Representation (Harry)
- More on Assembly instructions
- What does C 'transform into'? -- compiler explorer example
- Anatomy of an assembly program
- Program Stack and Assembly
- Assembly Functions and procedures
7
Wednesday, 2026-Oct-14
Module 14
Exam
Exam
- Exam in class
Exam otherwise includes any other materials from lecture, slides, and homeworks. You must finish the exam in one sitting (i.e. when you open the exam, your time starts)
Fall 2026 - Pleas see piazza/canvas announcements for review sessions that may take place.
7
Monday, 2026-Oct-19
PSET 06 Released - (Mini-Compiler, Linker Lottery, and Dynamic Libraries) (Due Oct. 29 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Nov. 04 for up to 90%)'
(Late Deadline Nov. 04 for up to 90%)'
Mid-semester date
9
Monday, 2026-Nov-02
PSET 07 Released - (Memory Simulator) (Due Nov. 13 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Nov. 20 for up to 90%)'
(Late Deadline Nov. 20 for up to 90%)'
10
Monday, 2026-Nov-09
11
Wednesday, 2026-Nov-11
Shellathon [to be scheduled] (see piazza for updates)
12
Wednesday, 2026-Nov-18
PSET 09 Released - Operating System - (Due Dec. 06 Anywhere on Earth)
(Late Deadline Dec. 13 for up to 90%)
(Late Deadline Dec. 13 for up to 90%)
Mike presenting at Graphics Programming Conference in Europe
14
Monday, 2026-Dec-07
15
Wednesday, 2026-Dec-09
Last official day of class :(
Note: Final Exam: Taken during normal class period. You will take the eam in the 'quiz' section of canvas (come with your laptop charged). The access code for the exam will be written on the board before the quiz starts.