| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers |
|---|
| 252-0063-00L | Data Modelling and Databases  | 7 credits | 4V + 2U | G. Alonso,
C. Zhang |
| Abstract | Data modelling (Entity Relationship), relational data model, relational design theory (normal forms), SQL, database integrity, transactions and advanced database engines |
| Learning objective | Introduction to relational databases and data management. Basics of SQL programming and transaction management. |
| Content | The course covers the basic aspects of the design and implementation of databases and information systems. The courses focuses on relational databases as a starting point but will also cover data management issues beyond databases such as: transactional consistency, replication, data warehousing, other data models, as well as SQL. |
| Literature | Kemper, Eickler: Datenbanksysteme: Eine Einführung. Oldenbourg Verlag, 7. Auflage, 2009.
Garcia-Molina, Ullman, Widom: Database Systems: The Complete Book. Pearson, 2. Auflage, 2008. |
| 252-0817-00L | Distributed Systems Laboratory | 10 credits | 9P | G. Alonso,
T. Hoefler,
A. Klimovic,
T. Roscoe,
R. Wattenhofer,
C. Zhang |
| Abstract | This 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 mobile phones. |
| Learning objective | Students acquire practical knowledge about technologies from the area of distributed systems. |
| Content | This 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 mobile phones. The objecte 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. |
| 263-5354-00L | Large Language Models | 8 credits | 3V + 2U + 2A | R. Cotterell,
M. Sachan,
F. Tramèr,
C. Zhang |
| Abstract | Large language models have become one of the most commonly deployed NLP inventions. In the past half-decade, their integration into core natural language processing tools has dramatically increased the performance of such tools, and they have entered the public discourse surrounding artificial intelligence. |
| Learning objective | To understand the mathematical foundations of large language models as well as how to implement them. |
| Content | We start with the probabilistic foundations of language models, i.e., covering what constitutes a language model from a formal, theoretical perspective. We then discuss how to construct and curate training corpora, and introduce many of the neural-network architectures often used to instantiate language models at scale. The course covers aspects of systems programming, discussion of privacy and harms, as well as applications of language models in NLP and beyond. |
| Literature | The lecture notes will be supplemented with various readings from the literature. |
