knerr cs21 notes...

back to schedule

WEEK01: intro to python, unix, cs21, interviews with students
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 M: Welcome to CS 21, my name, etc

What is Computer Science?

		Computer Science is the systematic study of the feasibility, structure,
		expression, and mechanization of the methodical processes (or algorithms)
		that underlie the acquisition, representation, processing, storage,
		communication of, and access to information, whether such information is
		encoded in bits and bytes in a computer memory or transcribed in genes and
		protein structures in a human cell. The fundamental question underlying 
		all of computing is: what computational processes can be efficiently 
		automated and implemented?

		or...what *can* be computed, and how best done?

    tic-tac-toe example: me vs student
                         can you think up an algorithm or recipe that the
                         computer could follow to play tic-tac-toe (and
                         play it well)??
                      
    about the course: intro to cs and learning to program
                      algorithms, binary numbers/how computers work,
                      data structures, programming paradigms
                      why should you take this course??
                      what to expect
                        - class builds on previous week's work
                        - does require work (lab time)
                        - help is available (ninjas)...but START EARLY
                        - my teaching style (learn by doing)
                        - why python?

    unix login and first python program (print "hello")
        - cs account
        - let me know if name not correct
        - prox tags
        - passwd 
        - dock and terminal program and unix prompt
        - logging out, ssh access (putty, mac)

    LAB0: vimtutor, using unix, update21, handin21