Timothy Roscoe: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2014

Award: The Golden Owl
Name Prof. Dr. Timothy Roscoe
FieldInformatik
Address
Institut für Computing Platforms
ETH Zürich, STF H 314
Stampfenbachstrasse 114
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 88 40
E-mailtroscoe@inf.ethz.ch
URLhttp://people.inf.ethz.ch/troscoe/
DepartmentComputer Science
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
252-0061-00LSystems Programming and Computer Architecture Information 8 credits4V + 2U + 1AT. Roscoe
AbstractIntroduction to computer architecture and system programming:

Instruction sets, storage hiearchies, runtime structures with an
emphasis on computers as engines for the execution of compiled
programs. Interaction between system software and the hardware.
Problems that arise from the final respresentation, performance
measurement and tuning, and program portability issues are covered.
ObjectiveThe objective is to allow students to understand all aspects of the
execution of compiled (C) programs on modern architectures -- the
instruction set, the storage resources (registers, stack, memory),
input/output, the impact of compiler decisions, and the interaction
between the operating system and hardware. Two main themes are
correctness issues (esp. those that arise from the finite
representation of data) and performance issues (incl. measurement and
tuning issues). The interface to the operating system is discussed to
prepare for subsequent classes on more advanced systems topics.

The two key goals are:

1) To equip students with a thorough understanding of how to
write correct programs that run fast on modern computer, and
2) How to write correct and efficient low-level systems code.

This course does not cover how to design or build a processor or
computer.
ContentThis course provides an overview of "computers" as a
platform for the execution of (compiled) computer programs. This
course provides a programmer's view of how computer systems execute
programs, store information, and communicate. The course introduces
the major computer architecture structures that have direct influence
on the execution of programs (processors with registers, caches, other
levels of the memory hierarchy, supervisor/kernel mode, and I/O
structures) and covers implementation and representation issues only
to the extend that they are necessary to understand the structure and
operation of a computer system.

The course attempts to expose students to the practical issues that
affect performance, portability, security, robustness, and
extensibility. This course provides a foundation for subsequent
courses on operating systems, networks, compilers and many other
courses that require an understanding of the system-level
issues. Topics covered include: machine-level code and its generation
by optimizing compilers, address translation, input and output,
trap/event handlers, performance evaluation and optimization (with a
focus on the practical aspects of data collection and analysis).
LiteratureThe course is based in part on "Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective" (2nd Edition) by R. Bryant and D. O'Hallaron, with some additional material.
Prerequisites / Notice252-0024-00L Parallel Programming,
252-0014-00L Digital Circuits
252-0817-00LDistributed Systems Laboratory Information
In the Master Programme max.10 credits can be accounted by Labs on top of the Interfocus Courses. Additional Labs will be listed on the Addendum.
10 credits9PG. Alonso, F. Mattern, T. Roscoe, R. Wattenhofer
AbstractThis course involves the participation in a substantial development and/or evaluation project involving distributed systems technology. There are projects available in a wide range of areas: from web services to ubiquitous computing including wireless networks, ad-hoc networks, RFID, and distributed applications on smartphones.
ObjectiveGain hands-on-experience with real products and the latest technology in distributed systems.
ContentThis course involves the participation in a substantial development and/or evaluation project involving distributed systems technology. There are projects available in a wide range of areas: from web services to ubiquitous computing including as well wireless networks, ad-hoc networks, and distributed application on smartphones. The goal of the project is for the students to gain hands-on-experience with real products and the latest technology in distributed systems. There is no lecture associated to the course.
For information of the course or projects available, please contact Prof. Mattern, Prof. Wattenhofer, Prof. Roscoe or Prof. G. Alonso.
263-3800-00LAdvanced Operating Systems Information 6 credits2V + 2U + 1AT. Roscoe
AbstractThis course is intended to give students a thorough understanding of design and implementation issues for modern operating systems. We will cover key design issues in implementing an operating system, such as memory management, scheduling, protection, inter-process communication, device drivers, and file systems.
ObjectiveThe goals of the course are, firstly, to give students a broader perspective on OS design than that provided by knowledge of Unix or Windows, building on the material in a standard undergraduate operating systems class, and secondly, to provide them with practical experience in dealing directly with the concurrency, resource management, and abstraction problems confronting OS designers and implementers.
ContentThis course is intended to give students a thorough understanding of design and implementation issues for modern operating systems. We will cover key design issues in implementing an operating system, such as memory management, scheduling, protection, inter-process communication, device drivers, and file systems. We will pay particular attention to system structures that differ from traditional monolithic arrangements of Unix/Linux and Windows.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course consists of lectures, project work, and a written examination. Project work will be performed in small groups, where students will implement major components of a microkernel-based operating system. The final assessment will be a combination of project and examination grades.