Welcome to the Sunlab!

You will be doing most of the course work for CS15 here, so get to know it! The computers here do not run Windows or Mac OS; instead they run an operating system called Linux. At first it looks and feels a little different from some other types of computers, but in some ways it's better, and you will quickly get used to the differences.

This first lab will cover:

Whew! That's a lot to do in one lab. It is okay if you do not understand everything that is covered here... you will have all semester to perfect your Linux skills, so it's not critical that you memorize every command and option. We want you to get comfortable with the basic idea of working on these machines, so take your time and work through the next few pages.

Because there is so much information here, a lot of it needs to be simply written out... not the most interesting format. We've included links to wikipedia and other informational sites to provide more information about certain topics.

These gray boxes have instructions for you to follow. They are at the bottom of most pages to reinforce the concepts covered on each page.

You do not need to do anything in these boxes (this is not a graded lab), but it's hard to learn about a new system by just reading, so we definitely encourage you to poke around on the computers.

And don't worry about clicking on the "wrong" thing: you don't have access privileges to break anything :)

What We Assume

This lab assumes that you have basic familiarity with using computers — how to use a keyboard and mouse, how to use a web browser, and how to navigate menus. In short, if you have experience using Windows or Mac OS, you should be fine.

Please speak to a TA if you do not feel comfortable with basic computing tasks.

Let's get started...

The Sunlab

First, a little bit of information about the room you are in. It's called the "Sunlab" because it originally had computers made by a company called Sun Microsystems (incidentally, the same company that made Java!).

The computers in the Sunlab are all custom-built machines that are constantly being upgraded by the CS Department. Treat the machines well and they will be your friends.

Getting Help

The TAs

Every lab section is proctored by several TAs who are there to help you with the lab material. In particular for this lab, be sure to ask any of the TAs if something about Linux isn't clear to you. By now you should have all read the Collaboration Contract, and know exactly what is permitted and what is unacceptable. TAs also hold nearly 100 hours of "TA Hours" each week, so stop by if you have questions. The HTAs (Adam, Jessica, and Ian) are also available on some hours to help you out.

The Website

The course website has an astonishing amount of information about the course and Java, so check it out if you're looking for lecture slides, syllabus information, assignment schedules, or help with coding. The homepage of the website also has a "Message Of The Day" (MOTD) with important information and changes about the course. You should try to check it as often as possible.

The Consultant

The computer in the corner by the entrance, numbered "cslab9a," is reserved for the consultant. The consultant is there to help with any computer issues you may have (but not course material, even if the consultant is also a CS15 TA!). If you ever need help using the Linux environment or if you think that your computer isn't working the way it should, ask the consultant on duty.

Check out the course website to see what's there. You'll be referring to it a lot over the course of the semester.