CSE 451: Operating Systems

Overview

CSE 451 is an undergraduate course on operating systems. During the course you will complete several labs, working in teams of two. Each lab will add a new feature to a primitive operating system called xk. At the end of this class you will be able to find your way around the source code of most operating systems, and more generally, be comfortable with systems software.

Textbooks

Exams

There will be an online final, Wednesday Mar 16th via Canvas.

To help you prepare for the final exam there will be one or two ungraded online practice exams during the quarter.

Grades

Roughly 70% projects, and 30% final. (Subject to change)

Policies

Reading

You will be given reading assignments associated with lecture and section. You should finish the reading before coming to class - we'll assume you've done this reading, and the lectures will enhance the material, rather than regurgitating it.

Late days

Lab 1-3's deadlines are not strict, but you should notify the staff when you are more than 2 days late so that we can help you out. Note that each lab depends on the previous one and lab 4 deadline is strict. Please allocate your time carefully and start lab 4 early.

Cheating vs. collaboration

Collaboration is a very good thing. On the other hand, cheating is considered a very serious offense and is vigorously prosecuted. Vigorous prosecution requires that you be advised of the cheating policy of the course before the offending act.

For this quarter, the policy is simple: don’t cheat. You know it when you’re doing it. We’ll recognize it when you do it. For example:

  • Never share code or text on the project.
  • Never use someone else’s code or text in your solutions.
  • Never consult project code or text that might be on the Internet.

On the other hand, for this class, you are strongly encouraged to:

  • Share ideas.
  • Explain your code to someone to see if they know why it doesn’t work.
  • Help someone else debug if they’ve run into a wall.

If you obtain help of any kind, always write the name(s) of your sources.

Please read CSE’s Academic Misconduct Policy.

Disability Accomodations

University of Washington Page

Religious Accomodations

University of Washington Policy