CS559 - Computer Graphics

Fall 2000

UPDATES:

[11/27/00] The example solution and code for Project 3 has been posted.

[11/25/00] Project 3 had been posted, along with a bunch of resources to help you get started with it. Unfortunately, the whole thing is not posted yet (for example, its still missing the example solution)

[11/8/00] Project 2 has been posted.

[11/8/00] The answer key to the midterm is available.

[10/30/00] The notes about the midterm are now available.

[10/30/00] Programming assignment 4 has been given out.

[10/30/00] There have been some course policy changes.

[10/17/00] The questions for Project 1 are available. They are due by Thursday, with a "final deadline" of Friday.

[10/15/00] The required survey for Project 1 is available. Please print out this form and hand it in on/by Thursday. We want to get it on paper to insure anonymity. The quiz questions will be available tomorrow.

[10/15/00] Programming Assignment 3 has been given. The calendar has been changed so its due a week later.

[10/15/00] Added a link to the mailing list archive.

[10/11/00] The Calendar has been re-arranged again.

[9/25/00] Project 1 has been announced!

[9/18/00] Information for Assignment 2 has been added.

[9/11/00] Hand-in directories for Assignment 1 have been created. Look for details here.

[9/11/00] Rumor has it that the bookstore now has the correct version. We will still read the web papers first.

[9/6/00] The correct edition of the book to get is "2nd Edition in C" - it actually says those words on the cover and the spine. The bookstore re-ordered the correct versions. If you bought the wrong one, you can return it to the bookstore. Because of this, I have re-arranged the calendar with no readings from the book for the first 2 weeks (there are readings from some papers on the web).

What's with the number?

CS559 is a new course. We did not get all of the paperwork completed to have a new course before the timetable was created, therefore, the timetable listed the class as CS638.

CS638 is a generic number that means "special topics." Basically, it is a catch all for any courses that get offered that don't yet have their own number. For the past few years, Computer Graphics has been taught this way. For example, in the Fall of 1999 it was taught this way.

The Basic Stats:

Should you be here?

Since this is a new class, there is little experience to say what its like to help you choose whether or not you should take it. This year's class will be very similar to last year's, but not identical.

The official prerequisites are CS367 (Data Structures) and Math 320 or 340 (Linear Algebra). Basically, in this class you will need enough programming skills to build fairly large programs, and enough mathematical skills to deal with the nature of the topic.

We will require students to write their programming assignments in C or C++. The programming language used for projects really is independent of graphics, however, these are what is most convenient. To put this another way, the language of the class would be English - it could be taught in Japanese, French, or Swahili, but it is more convenient for us to teach in English.

If you've never written a program in C++, you might want to invest a little energy in becoming proficient in the language before the class begins.

Also, the programming projects for this class are much bigger than those in an introductory class. For many students, this is the first time they have to write a substantial program, and that can be hard - this class is about graphics, not how to write substantial programs. Because people ask, I will tell you that last year's projects required about 1500 lines of code to do well. (for an interesting thing, check out a graph of grade vs. program length for one of last year's projects). Your mileage will vary (and this year we will have different projects than last).

You should be warned from the outset that this is a hard class. Like many of the upper level computer science courses, it requires a lot of programming (3 large projects and some smaller assignments). It also requires you to have a fair bit of mathematical skill.

Don't say I didn't warn you.