Randy Appleton's CS495 -- Device Drivers
Who
Randy Appleton
WS 149B
227-1593
rappleto@nmu.edu
What
This class is designed for advanced level students who are comfortable
with complex computer concepts. In this class we learn to write device
drivers, and of necessity we will also learn about other kernel features
needed to write device drivers. I expect that all students here can
already program in C.
Textbooks and URLs
Our required textbook is http://www.xml.com/ldd/chapter/book/index.html.
You can buy it from O'Reily or download it from the web site. There
will be lots of other assigned readings from the web. If you see
some cool web thing that helped you, please tell me and I'll announce it.
You can help the whole class, and gain brownie points with me at the same
time.
Grades
Grades are assigned from projects (1/4), a midterm (1/4), quizes (1/4)
and a final project(1/4). There will be a quiz every Friday.
Hopefully the quizes will let you know how you are doing while there is
still time to change it, and let me know what subject areas I need to review.
The projects are quite important. Each project will be structured so
that everyone can finish it completely. If you have trouble with a project,
come ask me (or a fellow student) for help. My goal is to have everyone
challanged, but also finish each project. You can get help in any way you
feel appropriate, but make sure that YOU DO THE WORK and that YOU UNDERSTAND
THE CONCEPT.
No one gets and A without completing every project, and no one gets
a B if they missed two. No one passes if they've missed more than
two.
Late Policy
I hate late assignments!!! However, it is much better to turn something
in late rather than not at all. The late penalty depends on the project
and the reason. You ca n ask for a later due date if you ask when the project
is assigned. If there was some unavoidable reason you could not turn a
project in on time (i.e. car crash, snow day, etc.) just ask me to waive
the penalty. I'm pretty lenient.