| CS145 Introductory Information |
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| CS145 Introductory Information |
This and other documents may be available in hardcopy form at the ``handout hangout'' between the A and B wings on the 4th floor of Gates. Whatever is not picked up in class will appear there, but we shall not restock the supply once it is gone.
We shall also learn some other database languages, both concrete and abstract, including relational algebra, Datalog, ODL/OQL (the object-oriented database standard), PSM (really Oracle's procedural PL/SQL), JDBC (the Java interface to SQL databases, and XML (the most popular way to create structured data with semantics). A Course Outline is available.
It is not our goal to study database system implementation (e.g., how to build a system that processes SQL queries efficiently). Study of that very important subject begins in CS245.
We shall run a ``help session'' on Fridays, 2:15 - 3:05PM, in Skilling 191. It is televised on channel E2. There will be no session on Friday Sept. 28.
| Person | Role | Office | Phone | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey D. Ullman | Instructor | 411 Gates | (650) 725-4802 | MW 10:30 AM - noon; but 11/12, 1:30-3PM, instead | ullman @ cs.stanford.edu |
| Siva Gaggara | TA | 2nd Floor, Sweet Hall | (650) 740-4305 | M 8 - 9:30 PM | gsiva @ cs.stanford.edu |
| Antonios Hondroulis | TA | B26A Gates | (650) 723-6319 | Th 08:00 AM - 09:30 AM & 2:30 PM - 4:00PM | axon @ cs.stanford.edu |
| Henry Hsieh | TA | B26A Gates | (650) 723-6319 | MW 2:30 - 4 PM | henrish @ cs.stanford.edu |
| Masood Siddiqi | TA | B24B Gates | (650) 736-1816 | MF 5 - 6:30 PM | masood @ cs.stanford.edu |
| Sarah Weden | Course Administrator | 419 Gates | (650) 725-3358 | N/A | sweden @ db.stanford.edu |
Programming assignments will use the Oracle relational database management system and the C or C++ programming language. Java is an alternative. The Oracle system can be accessed via any of the Unix workstations on the second floor of Sweet Hall, e.g., the ``elaines'' or ``epics.'' To open an account on these machines, type open at the login: prompt and follow the instructions.
We shall assume that students already are proficient with Unix and C.
SITN students can access the Unix workstations remotely via dial-in (try 650-325-1010) or telnet. If you have access to ar Oracle-8 system including PL/SQL and Pro*C, you may use that. We have to be sticky about what system you use not because we love Oracle, but because we are going to be exploring some very specific capabilities of this system, and it will present problems for you and us both, if you do not have all these features. We cannot make any exceptions for problems incurred by using your own computing facilities rather than those provided by Stanford.
These books are being printed in September, 2001, and we expect them to be express-shipped to the Stanford Bookstore on Oct. 1, 2001. The first two chapters can be Downloaded for Free.
Since we are going to be using the Oracle system, you may also wish to purchase one of several Oracle manuals. I got myself a copy of:
Students may also wish to purchase manual for the SQL standard, although this SQL is not quite identical to the version of SQL supported by Oracle. Three recommended books are:
We may be trying a system in which a network of schools share this resource for appropriate questions. Our goal is to decrease the average delay in getting you a response. More wil be announced later.
subscribe cs145-allto majordomo @ lists.stanford.edu. The message should come from your preferred mail-reading host.
We hope that messages to this list will be limited to notes of general interest to the class. In most circumstances, you should use the cs145-help list mentioned above in order to have a question about the course material answered.
Note: do not try to subscribe to the cs145-help list if you are not a TA for the class.
This year, we're going to try a homework strategy similar to that used in the Spring version of CS145. We'll adopt the philosophy that the purpose of written homework is to encourage you to keep up with the material, and not count it very much in the final grade. Each problem will be graded with only a check (more-or-less right), minus (small error or errors), and X (substantially wrong). We shall publish a solution sheet, but will also discuss the solutions at the help session on Fridays. That will be your opportunity to see the problems worked out and discuss alternative correct answers.
No late homeworks will be accepted. However, each student is allowed one extension of at most 48 hours. This amount of time cannot be divided among assignments; it applies to one assignment only.
Reminder: Save your homeworks as we return them, in case there is an error in the way we record grades and you ask for redress.
Final: On campus, location to be determined, Wednesday, December 12, 12:15PM. All local TV students must come to campus for the final. Please do not ask for a makeup final or early final.
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Project | 35% |
| Written Homework | 15% |
| Midterm | 15% |
| Final | 35% |
I know this section sounds like an old curmudgeon grousing, but every year I get a large number of requests for exceptions and postponements. If the reason for the exception is medical, you have my complete sympathy and cooperation. However, most nonmedical excuses do violence to my obligation to run a fair course. For instance, taking the final before or after the regular period would give you a huge advantage against students who must take all their finals in a short timespan. (An exception is a case where you are asked to take 3 finals within a 24-hour period; then, the University gives you the opportunity to postpone one of the exams, and I support this position.)
Another reason why we have to keep everyone together is that it is important to be able to publish solutions to assignments and exams in a timely manner. We cannot do so if people are given extensions of the deadline. Especially, if you are a remote SITN student, we're happy to have you in the class, but it is important for the reason just described that you keep no more than 48 hours behind the class. SITN has in the past been willing to send out tapes or allow downloads almost immediately, but if they don't, first ask them, and if that doesn't work, ask me.
We shall not deduct credit for small amounts of acknowledged assistance. Even working as a team on one of several problems in a problem set may not hurt your grade, as long as all members of the group acknowledge their collaboration. Such shared interest can be beneficial to all concerned. We do reserve the right to give less than full credit in circumstances where it appears that there has been large-scale division of labor, and you are not getting as much learning out of the assignment as you should. However, as long as you acknowledge your sources, you cannot get into Honor-Code trouble.
If you have any questions about what this policy means, please discuss the matter with the instructor now. We shall ask everyone to acknowledge that they have read the above material on the first homework.