We will discuss the central role of operating systems in the history and future of computers. CI445 differs from CS335 in that CI445 omits the deep technicalities and programming and adds the hands-on survey of existing operating systems. With the addition of labs, homework, and some quizzes, you can expect a somewhat frenetic pace. I plan to spend about half of each class in lecture. The labs will be done in semi-independent rotations, since there are not enough of the various kinds of machines for all of you to do the same thing at once.
Attendance is officially optional, but highly recommended.
Any student with special needs should come to me and we will arrange for reasonable accomodations. I favor true understanding of central concepts over broad coverage of memorized facts. However, the survey part of this material does require a certain attention to minutia. If you want me to consider an excuse afterward, it had better be really good. Homework should be on time, because we will go over it in class.