CS1110, Spring 2013: First-Day Announcements


Everything you need to know or find is kept here:

http://www.cs.cornell.edu/courses/cs1110/2013sp


Labs start today/tomorrow; if you're registered for a 12:20 or 1:25 discussion, can you switch to a later one?

You do need to attend lab the first week of classes. See the "Times & Places" subpage of the aforementioned "master" webpage for times, locations, and other info.

Unfortunately, the Tuesday and Wednesday 12:20 and 1:25 labs (discussions) have hit their capacity limit. If you're currently registered for one of those, and can switch one of the 2:30 or 3:35's, could you do so on Student Center in order to free up a spot for someone else who can't make any of the other times? Benefit: You'll get more roughly twice the individual attention in lab that way, according the current enrollment counts ...


Try installing (our) Python and Komodo Edit on your own computer

It's not too early to try installing CS1110's required version of Python and Komodo Edit on your computer; follow the directions on the "Python" subpage of the aforementioned "master" webpage. (Even if you already have some version of Python on your computer, it might not be the version we require.)


Make file-name extensions visible on your computer

In order to alleviate a lot of confusion regarding Python files, you should configure things so that extensions (like .doc, .pdf, .py, and .pyc) ALWAYS appear.

To do this on Windows: First, open an explorer window. Use the menu item Tools and click on Folder Options. Finally, click on the view tab and uncheck the box Hide extensions for known file types.

If you use a Mac, click the finder icon (the "face") on your Dock to make the Finder menu visible. From the Finder menu, select the Preferences option. Finally, select the Advanced tab and check the box Show all filename extensions.


Textbook is available online, so you don't need to buy it

The textbook that we are using, Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist, is licensed under the Creative Commons, and so is freely available online as either a PDF or an eBook. See course webpage for link

We realize that not everyone likes eBooks. The campus store is selling a few copies of the print version, should you want one.


Register your iClicker, even if used

Note that each individual student in CS1110 needs their own clicker. We will use the clickers in class for the first time on the second lecture, most likely. It is important that you have a clicker and register it by that class.

To register your device, visit http://atcsupport.cit.cornell.edu/pollsrvc . You will login with your netID and password, and you will need the serial number, or device ID, of your clicker. The device id can be found on the back, perhaps near a "bar code". You may wish to put some invisible tape over the number or write it down somewhere, since the numbers can rub off.

If the serial number/device ID on your iClicker is missing, you can recover it by bringing your clicker to (a) the Academic Technology Center Room 123, Computing and Communications Center on the Ag Quad, open 9-5; or (b) the ATC's G27 Stimson Hall office near Day Hall, open 12-5.