Duration
25h Th, 25h Pr
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course addresses some practical and theoretical aspects of distributed computing and parallel programming. It will notably introduce parallel programming models, the notions of process and thread, race conditions, mutual exclusion, data races, memory models, semaphores, monitors, and conditions. Some classical problems are studied. On the more practical side, the course will be based on examples in classical programming languages (C, C++, Java, Python) and will quickly introduce OpenMP. Finally, message passing will be explained, using MPI and Go to illustrate in practice message passing and queues.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, the student will be aware of the pitfalls of parallel and distributed programming. The student will know the basic algorithms to solve typical issues that occur in distributed systems, and will be able to apply them in concrete applications.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Excellent familiarity with sequential imperative programming is mandatory.
Examples are provided in C, C++, Go, Java and Python. We assume the student to be sufficiently at ease with programming not to be disturbed if some notions are explained in a less well-known language.
The practical exercices will be done in C, C++, and go. Since most of the code is provided, and we do not require from the student to write a large amount of code, there is no formal prerequisite for those languages. However, again, the student must be sufficiently familiar with imperative programming to get along writing, e.g., a few hundred lines of C++ code.
Students must have access to a machine under Linux, with a working X11 server. A Raspberry Pi or a well-installed virtual machine is enough. Machines are available at the university (candi*.montefiore.ulg.ac.be)
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, III.1, IV.1, IV.3, IV.4, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.4 of the MSc in computer science and engineering.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course comprises:
- ex cathedra courses, that introduce the concepts and techniques;
- problem sessions;
- hands-on sessions in the lab (C / go), to get practical knowledge of parallel programming;
- a more ambitious homework project (C++).
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Lectures are given in English. 2nd quadrimester, face-to-face.
Recording of the course will be given as best effort: there is no guarantee everything will be recorded, and there is no guarantee on the quality of the recordings.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Reference text, notes and slides available on the course space on eCampus.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Other : Practical evaluation on machine
Further information:
There will be a practical evaluation on machines, during the allocated slots for the course. No internet connection will be available. The student will have access to static documentation including C++ reference, and slides of the course. Students might suggest (at the latest two weeks before the evaluation) additional material that will be subject to approval. No AI tool, web search, community, repositories of solved problems, etc... may be used for this practical evaluation. The grade will be Pass or Fail.
For the written exam, no document and no electronic help is allowed.
If the practical grade is Pass, the final grade is the grade of the written exam, otherwise it is the grade of the written exam capped at 7/20.
Work placement(s)
None
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The contents of the theoretical and practical sessions, as well as the assignments and useful links, will be made available on the e-Campus space for the course.
Contacts
Teacher: Pascal Fontaine
Phone: 04 366 28 75
e-mail: Pascal.Fontaine@uliege.be
Association of one or more MOOCs
There is no MOOC associated with this course.
Additional information:
None