🦋 Psyched
For two weeks I have been taking COMP W4118, Operating Systems I, at Columbia University SEAS. The first homework, which was due last Tuesday, was pretty easy though it demanded some attention. The second homework, due the day after tomorrow, was in a different class* -- I spent all weekend fretting over it and wondering if I would be able to complete it at all, let alone on time. But as the title of this post suggests, it all came together yesterday -- I finished it and handed it in early. And, when I logged on to turn it in I noticed that the due date had been extended by one week because people are having trouble with it. So, cool. The next assignment looks quite easy -- it is to write two programs using multiple threads, synchronization and IPC; which is what I have been doing at work for 8 years now. Homework 2 was compiling a Linux kernel with an added system call, pinfo, which essentially duplicates the functionality of getpid and adds a little more information. Also compile the same function call in a Loadable Kernel Module; and write a test application; and write up the results from repeatedly running the test. As a reward for finishing the homework I did not read my textbook on the train this morning, instead I read the current Scientific American, lots of interesting stuff. I find their "NewsScan" feature really fascinating and appreciate that it contains so many articles. The longer, more in depth articles tend to challenge my attention span. Update: BTW, I am taking this class remotely, which means: I am watching the lectures as Windows Media files on my computer, after they have been given; I am interacting with the professor and TA's and other students via e-mail and the bulletin board set up for that purpose; and I am submitting homework over the internet using their software. (Actually all students, on-campus and remote, are using the bulletin board and the homework submission software.) I also have the option to take the tests remotely, but am thinking I will go in for them. How is it? Well it's alright. I have a bit of trouble focusing on the videotaped lectures; but I have some trouble focusing on lectures that I am present to listen to as well. Not sure if more or less trouble. And logging in to the computer lab remotely to work on my homework is extra-fun, because it means I get to learn about using an X Windows server (Red Hat's Cygwin/X) on top of Windows.
*No silly, not a different class than W4118, a different class than "pretty easy".
posted morning of Tuesday, September 20th, 2005
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