COMP211 can be a hard course for many. Be sure to start assignments early and to go to office hours early and regularly. Be sure to practice and experiment with code. Take notes of the information. In Professor Brent Munsell's version of the course, he has pre-recorded topic-wise videos (hats off to the professor for this).
The below is from Professor Brent Munsell's syllabus.
Content
This is the first course (in a two-course introductory systems sequence, i.e. COMP 211 and COMP 311) that introduces students to computer organization and design. The major topics covered in this course include:
- C Programing Language
- Data Representation
- Programming Concepts including Pointers
- Execution Models
- Memory Organization and Management
- Process Models
- Input/Output and Redirection
- Basic Digital Logic Hardware Design
- Command-line
- Shell
- Vim Editor
- C Compiler
- Git Version Control
- build tools in a Linux environment
There may be some differences in content with varying instructors.
Learning Objectives
- Fundamental concepts of systems programming and the execution model
- Basic design and operation of a central processing unit
- Basic design and operation of memory (physical and virtual)
- Basic design principles of an operating system (process model and scheduling)
- Fundamental concepts of network communication (optional)
Textbooks
- Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Randal E. Bryant & David R. O'Hallaron
- C Programming Language by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie
- Operating System Concepts by Abraham Silberschatz, Greg Gagne, and Peter Baer Galvin
- Computer Organization and Design by David A Patterson and John L. Hennessy
- Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces by Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau and Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau
Recommended Resources
- VIM command-line text editor tutorials
- C programming tutorial
- C standard library reference
- Linux manual pages
- Git command reference
Video Playlist
Professor Kris Jordan (this version has some differences from Professor Brent Munsell's version.)
Check the Study Strategy.