vincentclee/csci4780-distributed_computer_systems

The objective of the course is to gain an in-depth knowledge of the fundamental concepts in distributed systems and to understand the practical techniques for building distributed systems and applications.

CSCI 4780 Distributed Computing Systems

####Spring 2014

##Class Organization

• Instructor: Lakshmish Ramaswamy ([email protected], 706-542-2737, GSRC 542)
• Time and venue
  • Tues & Thurs 12:30 – 1:45 PM (GSRC 306)
  • Wednesday 12:20 – 1:10 PM (GSRC 306)
• TA – Nilayan Bhattacharya ([email protected])
• Webpage Distributed computing Systems - Spring 2014
• Office hours
  • Tue and Thu 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM (Tentative)
• Office hours
  • Tue and Thu 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
• TA Office Hours -- TBA

##Course Materials

• Textbook
  • Distributed Systems: Principles and Paradigms, by Tanenbaum & van Steen (Second edition, Publisher: Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc.)
• Supplemental materials from research papers
  • Copies distributed in class or put on the website

##Syllabus

• Introduction to Distributed Computing
• Communication
• Processes
• Naming
• Clocks & Synchronization
• Replication, caching, and consistency
• Reliability
• Cloud Computing and Bigdata (new!)

##What this Course is (Not) About

• You will learn
  • Systems Design
  • Tradeoffs
  • Commonly used techniques
  • Systems evaluation
  • Hands-on experience implementing and evaluating systems
• You will not learn
  • Java/Python/C/C++
  • HTML/XML
  • System/Database Administration

##Grading Policy for Undergrads

• Programming Projects [30%]
• Midterm exam [25%]
• Final exam [35%]
• Homework Presentation [5%]
• Class participation [5%]
• Absolute grading

##Grading Policy for Grads

• Programming Projects [30%]
• Midterm exam [25%]
• Presentation [10%]
• In discussion with instructor
• Final exam [30%]
• Class participation [5%]
• Absolute grading

##Programming Projects

• To be done in groups of two
  • You are responsible for forming groups
• Most projects can be done in C/C++/Java
• Many projects involve multi-threaded programming
• Projects are evaluated against sets of test cases

##Course Policies

• Project late submission policy – 10 point deduction for each late day; 0 after 5 days
• Project due date extensions – only for medical reasons or emergencies involving immediate family members (suitable documentation required)
• Make-up exams policy – only for medical reasons or emergencies involving immediate family members (suitable documentation required)
• No retakes

##Honesty

• Carefully review UGA honesty policy available at Preamble - uga-academic-honesty-policy-may-07
• Honesty policy will be strictly followed
• Violations will result in mandatory F
• No unauthorized assistance in projects, assignments and exams
• Discussions on topics covered in class is OK
• General discussion on assignments/projects is OK
• No sharing code unless permitted by instructor in writing/email
• When in doubt, talk to instructor

##Your Responsibility

• Interest in learning
• Class involvement
  • Don’t accept without questioning
• Honesty
• Timeliness
• Have fun !!!

#Let's Get Start!