COMSC-171 Syllabus (updated Jan 27)
Course Information
- Semester
- Spring 2026
- Title
- Introduction to UNIX and Linux
- Section
- 8225
- Units
- 2 units
- Instructor
-
- Stuart Fogg
- E-mail
- sfogg@dvc.edu
- Office
- Wed 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in BWL Student Center
- On campus meetings
- Wed 4:05 PM to 7:15 PM in BWL-108
- Online instruction
- (if required) fully asynchronous
- Dates
-
- Wed Jan 28
- Class begins
- Fri Feb 06
- Last day to drop with fee refund
- Sun Feb 08
- Last day to add
Last day to drop with no W
- Wed Mar 25
- Spring Break
- Fri Apr 24
- Last day to drop with W
- Fri May 15
- Last day to request P/NP option
- Wed May 20
- Last day of class
- Prerequisites
-
- no prerequisites
- previous computer experience will be helpful
- intermediate algebra (Math 119 or Math 120) will be helpful
- college English (eligibility for English 122) will be helpful
- Work and Grades
-
- A quiz on the previous week's material will be given each week except the first. Each quiz will count 10 points.
- Three exams will be given. The exams will not be comprehensive, each will cover only the material following the previous exam. Each exam will count 50 points.
- One program assignment will be given. The program will count 50 points
- The course grade will be based on the total of the quiz scores, the exam scores, and the program score with the lowest of the following dropped:
- the lowest 5 quiz scores
- the lowest exam score
- the program score
- Letter grades will be based on the curve.
- Student Learning Outcomes
-
- Connect and login to UNIX and Linux systems.
- Access documentation on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Operate one of the standard shells on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Customize the environment on UNIX and Linux system.
- Manage processes and permissions on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Use utility commands and programs on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Edit, store, and do access control on files in UNIX and Linux systems.
- Use Internet email, Telnet, FTP, and internet services on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Write simple scripts on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Use the X Window graphics system and a window manager on UNIX and Linux systems.
- Outline
-
- Course Details
- Academic Integrity
-
- Qizzes must be completed with no books, notes, devices, consultation, or other assistance.
- Exams must be completed with no consultation. Books, notes, the class web site, and an open character terminal are permitted.
- Programs must be the original work of the person submitting the program. Research and consultation are permitted, copying is not permitted.
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Artificial Intelligence Policy
- Any violation of these policies will result in a score of 0 for the assignment, with no makeup possible.
- Technology Use
-
- Computer accounts are for class exercises and related work. Accounts are not to be used for other purposes, including but not limited to: high-volume email, large downloads, server processes, commercial activity, and attacks.
- Acceptable Technology Use
- Texts (optional)
-
- UNIX for the Impatient by Paul Abrahams and Bruce Larson
any edition, most recent is 2nd
- The Linux Command Line by William Shotts
any edition, most recent is 2nd
- Unix: The Textbook by Syed Sarwar and Robert Koretsky
any edition, most recent is 3rd
- Class Web Sites
-
- slackstu.net
- slackstu2.net
- Use any XHTML browser.
Course Material and Sequence (approximate)
| Date |
Material |
Abrahams
& Larson |
Shotts |
Sarwar |
| Jan 28 |
syllabus |
|
|
|
| Jan 28 |
OS components |
|
|
1 |
| Jan 28 |
access, login |
1, 2, 5, 14 |
1 |
2 |
| Feb 04 |
files |
2, 14 |
2 |
2 |
| Feb 04 |
syntax |
2 |
3, 6 |
2 |
| Feb 04 |
basic commands |
1, 2, 3 |
2, 3, 4, 5 |
2, 6 |
| Feb 11 |
bash |
2, 6, 7 |
5 – 8, 11, 13 |
2, 9 |
| Feb 18 |
processes & jobs |
2, 5, 6 |
10 |
10 |
| Feb 25 |
Exam 1 |
|
|
|
| Feb 25 |
storage |
|
15 |
23, 24 |
| Mar 04 |
permissions |
2, 3 |
9 |
5 |
| Mar 11 |
inodes |
2, 3 |
4, 17 |
4 |
| Mar 18 |
file transfer |
12 |
16 |
11 |
| Mar 18 |
more commands |
3, 5 |
3, 20, 21, 22 |
2, 4, 6, 11 |
| Mar 25 |
spring break |
|
|
|
| Apr 01 |
Exam 2 |
|
|
|
| Apr 01 |
regular expressions |
2 |
19 |
7 |
| Apr 08 |
text utilities |
3, 4 |
19, 20 |
6, 7 |
| Apr 15 |
sed |
4, 8 |
12, 20 |
|
| Apr 15 |
awk |
4 |
|
|
| Apr 22 |
vi |
8 |
12 |
3 |
| Apr 22 |
emacs |
9, 10 |
|
3 |
| Apr 29 |
Exam 3 |
|
|
|
| Apr 29 |
program assignment |
|
|
|
| Apr 29 |
variables, substitutions |
6, 7 |
23 – 35 |
12 |
| Apr 29 |
test, shift |
6, 7 |
23 – 35 |
12 |
| May 06 |
selection, iteration |
6, 7 |
23 – 35 |
12 |
| May 06 |
functions, strings |
6, 7 |
23 – 35 |
13 |
| May 13 |
scripting |
|
|
16 |
| May 20 |
Program due at 9:00 AM |
|
|
|
| May 20 |
program solutions |
|
|
|
| May 20 |
installation |
13, 14 |
14 |
22, 23 |