Exit Survey 
Remember the survey we handed out at the beginning of the semester? To complete our research project, we need students to also complete an "exit survey" now that the semester is just about over.
The exit survey is online, at surveymonkey.com. Here is the link : Exit Survey
We're asking ALL students to visit this URL and either complete the survey, or click the "Decline to participate" button (and enter your name, university, and course number on the next page of the survey). You do NOT have to complete the actual survey if you choose not to participate (but we would very much appreciate it if you would do so, if you are at least 18 and therefore eligible). However, you DO have to visit the URL and explicitly decline if you want to "opt out."
Please also note (as it explains on the first page of the survey) that your name will NOT be associated with your answers -- when we download the data, we'll only use your name to determine who's responded, and to associate your answers from the survey at the start of the semester with your answers at the end.
Thanks!
Computer Science Help Center
The Computer Science Help Center is closing for the semester on
the last day of classes, Tues 12/9 at 4 PM.
Computer Science Help Center
The Computer Science Help Center is closing early today, 11/26/08.
Use of ITE 240
There has been a formal complaint filed with the CSEE Department about the behavior of some 201 students in the lab that our TAs use for part of their office hours and we use for special project office hours, ITE 240.Students are not to use ITE 240 without a TA present. When the 201 TAs leave, you MUST leave. Also, it is NEVER OK to be loud, prop the door open, or bother students from other classes who are using the lab.
I understand that on Friday, 11/21, 201 students were actually demanding that the seniors working in that lab help them with their project 4. Those seniors were in that lab to do their own work, and some of you were keeping them from working on their own projects. May I remind you that obtaining help from other than 201 staff and the CSHC & LRC tutors is against the rules of this class and is considered academic misconduct.
LUG's Installfest tomorrow
The UMBC Linux User's Group is having its once per semester Installfest tomorrow.If you want to install Linux on your laptop or desktop computer, the members of LUG will be available to help you do that in the Commons tomorrow.
"Working from Home" Talk this Wednesday
Have you ever wished that you could use the cool graphical Linux version of XEmacs when you're working in Windows on your own computer? If you have, then this talk is for you! Dan Hood will present a talk on improving your Windows programming environment at home, your dorm, laptop, etc.
When: Wednesday, October 8th, 12-1 PM
Where: Lecture Hall 7
For more information, visit
Working From Home.
Survey
Any students who have not filled out the initial survey: You may do so online.Please don't use the online version if you've already filled out and turned in a paper copy.
Sid Meier - Game Designer
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:57:50 -0400
From: Tim Finin
To: csee-student@csee.umbc.edu
Subject: [Csee-undergrad-cs] Game designer Sid Meier to talk in Baltimore
Professor Mark Olano posted news on the UMBC GAIM blog [1] that
legendary game designer Sid Meier [2] will give a presentation for
the Baltimore ACM chapter [3] at 8:00pm on Thursday, September
4th. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will be held a
the The Engineering Society of Baltimore [4] in Baltimore.
Meier is an influential figure in the game industry and helped to
establish the popular simulation game genre through his games like
Pirates, Railroad Tycoon and Civilization. He is currently Director
of Creative Development for Firaxis Games and has been inducted into
the Computer Museum of America Hall of Fame and the Academy of
Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement
in computer gaming. Here's the title and abstract for his talk.
Game Programming: Oh say, can you C?
Sid Meier and members of the Firaxis development team
Programming a computer game: There are three types of programming
in games: (1) game play on one end, (2) engine on the other, and
(3) the layer in between that allows the two others to
communicate. Each type of programming is different from the
others. Programmers are drawn to one or another type of
programming because of its power or beauty. Sid has developed a
flexible style of programming that allows him to make
instantaneous changes at the game play level. An engine programmer
needs a bit more conformity to step in where someone else left
off. The programmers in the middle have fun because they can make
the other two "worlds" talk to each other. Sid and other speakers
will discuss the different types of programming and how they "play
nice" together.
I~Rve attended talks at the Engineering Society building, which is on
Mt. Vernon Place in Baltimore, and should be easy to get to on the
MTA bus that stops at UMBC. It~Rs a grand old building that was fun
to be in. If you plan to attend, email volcheck@acm.org for further
announcements and updates.
[1] http://gaim.umbc.edu/news/2008/08/21/sid-meier-talk-for-baltimore-acm/
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Meier
[3] http://balto.acm.org/
[4] http://www.esb.org/
Your Quota
Keep an eye on your quota!! Each user is given a certain amount of disk space (100MB) on the GL network. If you exceed this disk space, we cannot send you email (i.e. project grades) and you can't create files (i.e. project files) To check your quota, at the linux prompt, type:linux3[16]% quota -v Volume Name Quota Used %Used Partition user.dforna1 75000 55198 74% 69%This will show how much disk space your are using. If the percentage used is approaching 100%, you need to clean up your account. This can be done by typing the following at the linux prompt:
linux3[17]% oitcleaner This is the cleaner that we want Volume Name Quota Used %Used Partition user.dforna1 250000 55198 74% 69% **** Start Quota **** **** Start: Cleaning Internet Files **** find: /afs/umbc.edu/users/d/f/dforna1/home/.2kprofile/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles: No such file or directory **** Done: Cleaning Internet Files **** **** Start: Cleaning Misc. Files **** find: No match. rm: remove `/afs/umbc.edu/users/d/f/dforna1/home/file.c~'? y rm: No match. rm: No match. rm: No match. rm: No match. **** Done: Cleaning Misc. Files **** **** Finding Large Files **** rm: remove `/afs/umbc.edu/users/d/f/dforna1/home/cs104FA07.tar.gz'? n rm: remove `/afs/umbc.edu/users/d/f/dforna1/home/gifs/menu3.gif'? y rm: remove `/afs/umbc.edu/users/d/f/dforna1/home/gifs/menu3.bmp'? y **** Finished **** Volume Name Quota Used %Used Partition user.dforna1 250000 52913 71% 69% **** End Quota ****This script will clear out some unnecessary files in your account. It will also ask you if you want to delete any large files it finds. You must answer either y or n when it prompts you to remove. Make sure to remove any files named core.[followed by four digits].
For more information about your quota, visit the following OIT Web site: http://www.umbc.edu/oit/sans/helpdesk/afs/afs_disk_quota.htm
.emacs
EMACS -- when emacs (or xemacs) begins, it looks for and reads a file named .emacs in your home directory to obtain configuration information. Save the CS201 recommended version of the .emacs file (note the leading "dot") in your Unix home directory to get the following features:- Automtic formatting in accordance with the CS201 coding style standard
- A working backspace key. Backspace will now delete to the left of the cursor instead of invoking "help". It also remaps CTL-X? to be the new "help" key.
The .emacs file is publicly available in the directory
/afs/umbc.edu/users/b/o/bogar/pub
To copy the file, 'cd' to your home directory and type
the command
cp /afs/umbc.edu/users/b/o/bogar/pub/.emacs .
Don't forget the dot (.) at the end... it means copy the
file to the current directory.
Enjoy!