Internet / Intranet
Brandeis University
Continuing and Professional Studies
Fall 2000
Tuesdays, 6- 9 p.m.  

Last Update: September 10, 2000

Instructor
Evan Schapiro
978-392-9123 (leave message)
fax: 978-692-2053
daytime: 781-395-8299 (Givenation)
email:  evan@mkat.com
Office Hours:  By Arrangement
Class website: http://www.mkat.com/brandeis/

Course Description

This is a comprehensive survey course of Internet technologies intended for those who are or plan to be professional software engineers.  A key topic will be web application development.  Students will gain hands-on experience developing HTML-based web-client applications including the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and Dynamic HTML using JavaScript.  Students will also learn core web-server technologies including server set-up and management, and CGI scripting using Perl.  Security, Intranet implications and electronic commerce will also be covered.  In addition, the course will discuss emerging web-related technologies and future trends.

Prerequisites

Students must have completed at least one advanced programming course.  In addition, students should have experience as users of the Internet (e.g. via the use of e-mail and web-site browsing).

Required Text

How to Set Up and Maintain a Web Site
 by Lincoln D. Stein.
  2nd edition. 
 Addison-Wesley. 
 ISBN 0-201-63462-7
On-Line Reading

Additional readings will be assigned that are available on the web.

Computers / Software

Students should ideally have access to the following from either home and/or work:
-	A current computer running Windows 98/NT or UNX 
-	Administrator level control over your environment (i.e. the ability to set permissions, install new software, etc.)
-	Internet Explorer 4.0/5.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.0
-	A permanent or dial-up connection to the Internet
-	An email account
-	A decent amount of free disk space
-	If connected via a firewall, the firewall should allow FTP uploads and downloads

Computers in the Feldberg and Goldfarb clusters at Brandeis are also available for student use. For students  who do not have an email account,  arrangements for one can be made through the Office of Continuing Studies (736-8787).  

Grading Policy
	Attendance / Class Participation		10%
	In Class Exercises / Mini-Homeworks	20%
	Project / Homework Assignments		50%
	Research Project / Presentation 		20%

Policies

Attendance 
This course will cover a lot of material in 10 weeks.  Students are expected to attend all classes.  If a student is unable to attend a class, they should contact me (in advance if possible).

Class Participation and Presentations
Software engineers must not only be adept in technology and programming, they must be able to communicate this knowledge to peers and managers.  Therefore, this class will encourage the development of such communication skills through class discussions and a presentation.  

Class Notes

Class notes and other information about the class will be made available on the class website at http://www.mkat.com/brandeis/.  Where possible notes will be made available on the website during the weekend preceding the class.  Students who wish to use these notes as a basis for in-class note-taking should print them and bring the print-outs with them to class.  Most notes will be in Microsoft Word or Powerpoint format.  If you do not have access to these programs, please contact me for an alternative arrangement.

Students are not expected to have reviewed the notes before class.  They are provided as a convenience for note-taking and for reference after completion of the class.

Computers

Each student will be given an account name and password that can be used on any computer in the Goldfarb or Feldberg cluster.  Our classroom has a computer for each student. These will be used for in-class demonstrations and assignments.  Each student account will allow read/write access to a private folder on Rabb_Server as well as read access to the class folder in the ClassMaterials folder of Rabb_Server.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  There is no access to these machines from off-campus so students are advised to use floppy disks for any data that you want to access from your home or work computer.

Any student may use the computers in the Goldfarb cluster or the Feldberg cluster when these rooms are not occupied by classes. The Goldfarb and Feldberg clusters are open 7 days a week during the Fall and Spring semesters for the following hours:
	Monday - Thursday	9:00 a.m. 	– 	11:45 p.m.
Friday	9:00 a.m. 	– 	7:45 p.m.
	Saturday	10:00 a.m. 	– 	5:45 p.m.
	Sunday	12:00 noon 	–		11:45 p.m.
The clusters are also open during semester breaks and between semesters although for reduced hours.

Students will also be assigned an account on a UNIX server that will allow them to publish web pages and scripts developed in class.  These accounts are accessible via FTP and Telnet from the Internet.  Students will be responsible for posting their homeworks to their account.  Students may access their accounts 

Homework
Students will choose a homework project for the class.  Homework assignments will require a portion of the project to be completed by a set date.  Depending on the complexity of the assignment, homework will be due in one or two weeks after the material is covered in class.  Extensions will only be granted in extreme circumstances and must be discussed with me in advance.  Homework will be penalized one letter grade for each week (or fraction thereof) that it is late.

Honesty
As stated in the Rights and Responsibilities handbook, ``Every member of the University community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. A student shall not receive credit for work that is not the product of the student's own effort."  

Learning Disabilities
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and/or wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in class, please see me immediately.

Snow / Cancellations
In the case of Brandeis canceling classes due to inclement weather, announcements will be made on the following local radio and television stations: WRKO-AM (680),  WBZ-AM (1030), WBRS-FM(100.1), WBUR-FM (90.9) and tv channels 4,5, and 7.  The message on the main Brandeis telephone number: 781-736-2000 will be changed within minutes of a decision regarding cancellation.

The class web site: http:/www.mkat.com/brandeis/ will also be updated to reflect cancellation information whenever possible.

Class Schedule
NOTE:  This schedule is subject to revision.

Week 1 – September 18 
	
Getting Started – Introductions and Review of Policies
Introduction to Internet History and Technologies
Networking Principles and TCP/IP

Reading:   Stein - Chapters 1,2

Week 2 – September 25

Introduction to Web-Client Applications
More Internet Protocols – FTP, Mail
Introduction to HTML
	
Assignment 1 Distributed 

Reading:   Stein – Chapters 5,7

Week 3 – October 2

Advanced HTML
Cascading Style Sheets

Due:  Homepage for Student Assignments

October 9 – NO CLASS – Columbus Day

Week 4 – October 16

HTTP Protocol
Introduction to Web Servers

Reading:  Stein – Chapter 3,4
Due: First Project Milestone
 
Week 5 – October 23

Javascript
Dynamic HTML
Document Object Model (DOM)
Reading: Stein Chapter 10

Week 6 – October 30

HTML Forms

Due: Second Milestone of Project

Week 7 – November 6

CGI and Web-Server Scripting HTML Forms
Forms and Perl
Reading: Stein – Chapter 8,9

Due: Third Milestone of Project

Week 8 – November 13

More Perl

Week 9 – November 20

To Be Determined

Due: Fourth Milestone of Project

Week 10 – November 27

Other Internet Technologies
Development Environments
Putting It All Together  - Technology Comparisons and Practical Considerations

Due: Final Homepage

Week 11 – December 4 (NO CLASS)

Last Mini-Homework Due