CIS560: Elements of Computer Systems Programming

Description

Software engineering as exemplified by various classical computer systems programs; assemblers, macroprocessors, loaders; group participation in a major software project involving the implementation of various systems programs.

Level, Credits, Class Time Distribution, Prerequisites

Quarters Offered, General Information, Exclusions, etc.

• Au, Wi, Sp, Su
• Course includes a large software project to be completed by students working in teams.

Objectives

• Mastery of the concepts behind the assemble-link-load-relocate-execute process.
• Master the two-pass approach to assembling programs.
• Master bit manipulation of integers and ascii characters to be able to emulate a simple computer that handles both integer and character I/O.
• Master analyzing the intended audicence for a written document and to write an audience profile.
• Be familiar with group project organization techniques including conducting group meetings, recording minutes, and tracking project progress.
• Be familiar with process of linking programs and to write a relocating linking loader.
• Be familiar with different addressing modes.
• Be familiar with subroutine linkage at the assembly level.
• Be familiar with the use of compilers, debuggers, word processors, editors, diagram drawing programs, and profilers to design, build, and document a large software project.
• Be familiar with the use of macros, included recursive and nested macros.
• Be familiar with defining the purpose (persuade, inform, etc.) of a written document and select the appropriate rhetorical devices; and to write several pieces of documentation that have different purposes and to use appropriate organization to tie them together.
• Be familiar with proof-reading own and others' writing.
• Be familiar with fetch-decode-execute cycle of a CPU and be able to emulate it in software.
• Be familiar with the concept of a `machine' and its implementation via either translation or interpreation on lower level machines.
• Be familiar with the concept of making engineering decisions involving tradeoffs (e.g., space-time tradeoffs in choosing a symbol table implementation).
• Be familiar with the importance of communication skills, including oral, email, and other written documents such as meeting minutes.
• Be familiar with software testing strategies including black-box versus white-box, unit testing, integration testing, top-down versus bottom-up testing, and construction and implementation of a test plan.
• Be familiar with the economic and social forces that often drive technology to explain developments in system software.
• Be familiar with one structured approach to large software design to carry out a large group project.
• Be exposed to issues in systems programming as opposed to applications programming.
• Be exposed to memory management issues including caching, virtual memory, etc.
• Be exposed to one-pass macro processing techniques.