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<eventdefs>
<!--spring 2007-->
<eventitem date="2007-07-17" time="7:00 PM" room="AL 116" title="C++0x - An Overview">
<short>Bjarne Stroustrup</short>
<abstract><p>
A good programming language is far more than a simple collection of
features. My ideal is to provide a set of facilities that smoothly work
together to support design and programming styles of a generality beyond
my imagination. Here, I briefly outline rules of thumb (guidelines,
principles) that are being applied in the design of C++0x. Then, I
present the state of the standards process (we are aiming for C++09) and
give examples of a few of the proposals such as concepts, generalized
initialization, being considered in the ISO C++ standards committee.
Since there are far more proposals than could be presented in an hour,
I'll take questions.
</p></abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-07-06" time="4:30 PM"
room="AL 116" title="Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Networks">
<short>Richard Stallman</short>
<abstract>
<p>Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with
the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright
system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can
enforce it.</p>
<p>
The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments,
and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But
if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress,
for the benefit of the public--then we must make changes in the other direction.</p>
<p>
Ths CSC would like to thank MEF and Mathsoc for funding this talk.
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.fsf.org/events/waterloo20070706">The
Freedom Software Foundation's description</a><br />
<a href="http://www.defectivebydesign.org">FSF's anti-DRM
campaign</a><br />
<a href="http://www.badvista.org">Why you shouldn't use
Microsoft Vista</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gnu.org">The GNU's Not Unix
Project</a><br />
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-06-27" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 4042" title="Usability in the wild">
<short>A talk by Michael Terry</short>
<abstract>
<p>What is the typical monitor resolution of
a GIMP user? How many monitors do they
have? What size images do they work on? How
many layers are in their images? Th
e answers to these questions are generally
unknown: No means currently exist for
open source applications to collect usage
data.
In this talk, I will present
ingimp, a version of GIMP that
has been in
strumented to automatically collect usage
data from real-world users. I will dis
cuss ingimp's design, the type of data we
collect, how we make the data availabl
e on the web, and initial results that
begin to answer the motivating questions.
ingimp can be found at
http://www.ingimp.org.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-06-22" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 4042"
title="Email encryption for the masses">
<short>Ken Ho</short>
<abstract>
<p>E-mail transactions and confirmations have become commonplace
and the
information therein can often be sensitive. We use email for purposes as
mundane as inbound marketing, to as sensitive as account passwords and
financial transactions. And nearly all our email is sent in clear text;
we trust only that others will not eavesdrop or modify our messages. But
why rely on the goodness or apathy of your fellow man when you can
ensure your message's confidentiality with encryption so strong not even
the NSA can break? Speaker (Kenneth Ho) will discuss email encryption,
and GNU Privacy Guard to ensure that your messages are sent, knowing
that only your intended recipient can receive it.
</p>
<p>An optional code-signing party will be held immediately
afterwards; if
you already have a PGP or GPG key and wish to participate, please submit
the public key to <a
href="mailto:gpg-keys@csclub.uwaterloo.ca">gpg-keys@csclub.uwaterloo.ca</a>.
Laptop users are
invited
also to participate in key-pair sharing on-site, though it is preferable
to send keys ahead of time.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-06-18" time="4:30 PM"
room="DC 4040" title="Fedspulse.ca, Web 3.0, Portals and the Metaverse">
<short>Peter Macdonald</short>
<abstract>
<p>The purpose of the talk is to address how students interact
with the
internet, and possibilities for how they could do so more
efficiently. Information on events and happenings on UW campus is
currently hosted on a desperate, series of internet
applications. Interactions with WatSFIC is done over a Yahoo! mailing
list, GLOW is organized through a Facebook group, campus information
at large comes from <a href="http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca">imprint.uwaterloo.ca</a>. There has been
historical pressures from various bodies, including some thinkers in
feds and the administration, to centralize these issues. To create a
one stop shop for students on campus.
</p>
<p>It is not through confining data in cages that we will finally link
all
student activities together, instead it is by truly freeing it. When
data
can be anywhere, then it will be everywhere students need it. This is
the
underlying concept behind metadata, data that is freed from the confines
of
it's technical imprisonment. Metadata is the extension of people,
organizations, and activities onto the internet in a way that is above
the
traditional understanding of how people interact with their networks.
The
talk will explore how Metadata can exist freely on the internet, how
this
affects concepts like Web 3.0, and how the university and the federation
are
poised to take advantage of this burgeoning new technology through
adoptions
of portals which will allow students to interact with a metaverse of
data.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2007 -->
<eventitem date="2007-04-11" time="3:30 PM"
room="Hagey Hall" title="The Free Software Movement and the GNU/Linux Operating System">
<short>A talk by Richard M. Stallman (RMS) <b>[CANCELLED]!</b></short>
<abstract>
<p>
<!-- Richard Stallman will speak about the goals and philosophy of the Free Software Movement, and the status and history the GNU operating
system, which in combination with the kernel Linux is now used by tens of millions of users world-wide.
-->
Richard Stallman has cancelled his trip to Canada.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-04-08" time="4:30pm"
room="MC 4041" title="Loop Optimizations">
<short>A talk by Simina Branzei</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Abstract coming soon!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-04-01" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 3036" title="Surprise
Bill Gates Visit">
<abstract>
<p>
While reading Slashdot, Bill came across the recently digitized audio
recording of his 1989 talk at the Computer Science Club. As Bill has always
had a soft-spot for the Computer Science Club, he has decided to pay us a
surprise visit.
<br/><br/>
Bill promises to give away free copies of Windows Vista Ultimate, because
frankly, nobody here (except j2simpso) wants to pay for a frisbee. Be sure
to bring your resumes kids, because Bill will be recruiting for some
exciting new positions at Microsoft, including Mindless Drone, Junior Code
Monkey, and Assistant Human Cannonball.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-03-28" time="5:30 PM"
room="MC 1056" title="Computational Physics Simulations">
<short>A talk by David Tenty and Alex Parent</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Coming Soon!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-03-29" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 1056" title="All The Code">
<short>A demo/intrdocution to a new source code search engine. A talk by Holden Karau</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Source code search engines are a relatively new phenomenon . The general idea of most source code search engines is helping programmers find
pre-existing code. So if you were writing some code and you wanted to find a csv library, for example, you could search for csv.
<a href="http://www.allthecode.com/">All The Code</a> is a
next generation source code search engine. Unlike earlier generations of source code search engines, it considers how code is used to help determine
relevance of code.
</p>
<p>
The talk will primarily be a demo of <a href="http://www.allthecode.com">All The Code</a>,
along with a brief discussion of some of the technology behind it.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-04-04" time="4:00 PM"
room="MC 1056" title="Data Analysis with Kernels: [an introduction]">
<short>A talk by Michael Biggs. This talk is RESCHEDULED due to unexpected
circumstance.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
I am going to take an intuitive, CS-style approach to a discussion about the
use of kernels in modern data analysis. This approach often lends us
efficient ways to consider a dataset under various choices of inner product,
which is roughly comparable to a measure of "similarity". Many new tools in
AI arise from kernel methods, such as the infamous Support Vector Machines for
classification, and kernel-PCA for nonlinear dimensionality reduction. I will
attempt to highlight, and provide visualization for some of the math involved
in these methods while keeping the material at an accessible, undergraduate
level.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-02-26" time="4:30 pm"
room="DC 1350" title="ReactOS: An Open Source OS Platform for Learning">
<short>A talk by Alex Ionescu</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The ReactOS operating system has been in development for over eight years and aims to provide users
with a fully functional and Windows-compatible distribution under the GPL license. ReactOS comes with
its own Windows 2003-based kernel and system utilities and applications, resulting in an environment
identical to Windows, both visually and internally.
<br/><br/>
More than just an alternative to Windows, ReactOS is a powerful platform for academia, allowing
students to learn a variety of skills useful to software testing, development and management, as well as
providing a rich and clean implementation of Windows NT, with a kernel compatible to published
internals book on the subject.
<br/><br/>
This talk will introduce the ReactOS project, as well as the various software engineering challenges
behind it. The building platform and development philosophies and utilities will be shown, and
attendees will grasp the vast amount of effort and organization that needs to go into building an
operating system or any other similarly large project. The speaker will gladly answer questions related to
his background, experience and interests and information on joining the project, as well as any other
related information.
<br/><br/>
<strong>Speaker Bio</strong>
<br/><br/>
Alex Ionescu is currently studying in Software Engineering at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec
and is a Microsoft Technical Student Ambassador. He is the lead kernel developer of the ReactOS Project
and project leader of TinyKRNL. He regularly speaks at Linux and Open Source conferences around the
world and will be a lecturer at the 8th International Free Software Forum in Brazil this April, as well as
providing hands-on workshops and lectures on Windows NT internals and security to various companies.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-02-15" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 2065" title="An Introduction to Recognizing Regular Expressions in Haskell">
<short>A talk by James deBoer</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This talk will introduce the Haskell programming language and and walk
through building a recognizer for regular languages. The talk will
include a quick overview of regular expressions, an introduction to
Haskell and finally a line by line analysis of a regular language
recognizer.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-02-09" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 4041" title="Introduction to 3-d Graphics">
<short>A talk by Chris "The Prof" Evensen</short>
<abstract>
<p>
A talk for those interested in 3-dimensional graphics but unsure of where to
start. Covers the basic math and theory behind projecting 3-dimensional
polygons on screen, as well as simple cropping techniques to improve
efficiency. Translation and rotation of polygons will also be discussed.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-02-09" time="8:30 PM"
room="DC 1351" title="Writing World Class Software">
<short>A talk by James Simpson</short>
<abstract>
<p>
A common misconception amongst software developers is that top quality software
encompasses certains platforms, is driven by a particular new piece of
technology, or relies solely on a particular programming language. However as
developers we tend to miss the less hyped issues and techniques involved in
writing world class software. These techniques are universal to all
programming languages, platforms and deployed technologies but are often times
viewed as being so obvious that they are ignored by the typical developer. The
topics covered in this lecture will include:
<br/><br/>
- Writing bug-free to extremely low bug count software in real-time<br/>
- The concept of single-source, universal platform software<br/>
- Programming language interoperability<br/>
<br/>
... and other less hyped yet vitally important concepts to writing
World Class Software
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-02-08" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 2066" title="UW Software Start-ups: What Worked and What Did Not">
<short>A talk by Larry Smith</short>
<abstract>
<p>
A discussion of software start-ups founded by UW students and what they did
that helped them grow and what failed to help. In order to share the most
insights and guard the confidences of the individuals involved, none of the
companies will be identifed.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2007-02-07" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 4041" title="Riding The Multi-core Revolution">
<short>How a Waterloo software company is changing the way people program computers.
A talk by Stefanus Du Toit</short>
<abstract>
<p>
For decades, mainstream parallel processing has been thought of as
inevitable. Up until recent years, however, improvements in
manufacturing processes and increases in clock speed have provided
software with free Moore's Law-scale performance improvements on
traditional single-core CPUs. As per-core CPU speed increases have
slowed to a halt, processor vendors are embracing parallelism by
multiplying the number of cores on CPUs, following what Graphics
Processing Unit (GPU) vendors have been doing for years. The Multi-
core revolution promises to provide unparalleled increases in
performance, but it comes with a catch: traditional serial
programming methods are not at all suited to programming these
processors and methods such as multi-threading are cumbersome and
rarely scale beyond a few cores. Learn how, with hundreds of cores in
desktop computers on the horizon, a local software company is looking
to revolutionize the way software is written to deliver on the
promise multi-core holds.
</p>
<p>
Refreshments (and possible pizza!) will be provided.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- <eventitem date="2007-01-24" time="4:00 PM"
room="TBA" title="TBA">
<short>A talk by Reg Quinton</short>
<abstract>
<p>
To be announced
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
-->
<eventitem date="2007-01-31" time="4:00 PM"
room="MC 4041" title="Network Security -- Intrusion Detection">
<short>A talk by Reg Quinton</short>
<abstract>
<p>
IST monitors the campus network for vulnerabilities and scans
systems for security problems.
This informal presentation will look behind the scenes to show the
strategies and technologies used and to show the problem magnitude. We
will review the IST Security web site with an emphasis on these pages
<br/><br/>
<a href="http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/vulnerable/">http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/vulnerable/</a><br/>
<a href="http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/security-wg/reports/20061101.html">http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/security-wg/reports/20061101.html</a><br/>
<a href="http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/position/20050524/">http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/security/position/20050524/</a><br/>
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!--
<eventitem date="2007-01-31" time="4:30 PM"
room="TBA" title="An Brief Introduction to Projection Graphics">
<short>A talk by Christopher Evensen</short>
<abstract>
<p>
To be announced
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
-->
<!-- Fall 2006 -->
<!-- Nothing happend :( -->
<!-- Spring 2006 -->
<eventitem date="2006-07-29" title="CTRL D" time="7:00pm" room="East Side Mario">
<short>Come out for the Club that Really Likes Dinner</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Summer: the sparrows whistle through the teapot-steam breeze. The
ubiquitous construction team tears the same pavement up for the third
time, hammering passers-by with dust and noise: our shirts, worn for
the third time, noisome from competing heat and shame. As Nature
continues her Keynesian rotation of policy, and as society decrees yet
another parting of ways, it is proper for the common victims to have
an evening to themselves, looking both back and ahead, imagining new
opportunities, and recognising those long since missed. God fucking
damn it.
</p>
<p>
This term's CTRL-D end-of-term dinner is taking place tomorrow
(Saturday) at 7:00 P.M. at East Side Mario's, in the plaza. Meet in
the C.S.C. fifteen minutes beforehand, so they don't take away our
seats or anything nasty like that.
</p>
<p>
A lot of people wanted to go to the Mongolian Grill, but I'm pretty
sure this place has a similar price-to-tasty ratio; what's more,
they'll actually grant us a reservation more than four nights a week.
I've confirmed that the crazy allergenic peanuts no longer exist
(sad), and they have a good vegetarian selection, which is likely
coincides with their kosher and halal menus.
</p>
<p>
Come out for the tasty and the awesome! If you pretend it's your
birthday, everyone's a loser! Tell your friends, because I told the
telephone I wanted to reserve for 10 to 12 people, and I don't wish to
sully Calum T. Dalek's good name!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-26" title="Lemmings Day" time="3:30pm" room="MC Comfy Lounge">
<short>Come out for some retro Amiga-style Lemmings gaming action!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Does being in CS make you feel like a lemming? Is linear algebra driving you
into walls? Do you pace back and forth, constantly, regardless of whatever's
in your path? Then you should come out to CSC Lemmings Day. This time, we're
playing the pseudo-sequel: Oh No! More Lemmings!
</p>
<ul>
<li>Old-skool retro gaming, Amiga-style (2 mice, 2 players!)</li>
<li>Projector screen: the pixels are man-sized!</li>
<li>Enjoy classic Lemmings tunes</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-25" title="Linux Installfest!" time="1:00pm" room ="DC Fishbowk">
<short>A part of Linux Awareness Week</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Club is once again stepping forward to fulfill its ancient duty to the people-this time by installing one of the many
fine distributions of Linux for you.
</p>
<p>
Ubuntu? Debian? Gentoo? Fedora? We might not have them all, but we seem to have an awful lot! Bring your boxen down to the D.C. Fishbowl for
the awesome!
</p>
<p>
Install Linux on your machine-install fear in your opponents!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-24" title="Software development gets on the Cluetrain" time="4:30pm" room ="MC 4063">
<short>or How communities of interest drive modern software development.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Simon Law leads the Quality teams for Ubuntu, a free-software operating
system built on Debian GNU/Linux. As such, he leads one of the largest
community-based testing efforts for a software product. This does get a
bit busy sometimes.
</p>
<p>
In this talk, we'll be exploring how the Internet is changing how
software is developed. Concepts like open source and technologies like
message forums are blurring the lines between producer and consumer.
And this melting pot of people is causing people to take note, and
changing the way they sling code.
</p>
<p>
Co-Sponsored with CS-Commons Committee
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-21" time="5:30 PM"
room="MC1085" title="March of the Penguins">
<short>The Computer Science Club will be showing March of the Penguins</short>
<abstract>
<p>
<a href="http://wip.warnerbros.com/marchofthepenguins/">March of the Penguins</a> , an epic nature documentary, as dictated
by some guy with a funny voice is being shown by the Computer Science club because penguins are cute and were bored [that and the
whole Linux awareness week that forgot to tell people about].
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-20" time="5:30 PM"
room="MC4041" title="Cool Stuff to do With Python">
<short>Albert O'Connor will be introducing the joys of programming in python</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Albert O'Connor, a UW grad, will be giving a ~30 minute talk on introducing the joys of programming python. Python is an open source
object-oriented programming language which is most awesome.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-20" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC4041" title="Simulating multi-tasking on an embedded architecture">
<short>Alex Tsay will look at the common hack used to simulate multi-processing in a real time embedded environment.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
In an embedded environment resources are fairly limited, especially. Typically an embedded system has strict time constraints in which it must
respond to hardware driven interrupts and do some processing of its own. A full fledged OS would consume most of the available resources, hence
crazy hacks must be used to get the benefits without paying the high costs. This talk will look at the common hack used to simulate multi-processing
in a real time embedded environment.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-19" title="Semacode: Image recognition on mobile camera phones" time="4:30 PM" room ="MC1085">
<short>Simon Woodside, founder of Semacode, comes to discuss image what it is like to start a business and how imaging code works</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Could you write a good image recognizer for a 100 MHz mobile phone
processor with 1 MB heap, 320x240 image, on a poorly-optimized Java
stack? It needs to locate and read two-dimensional barcodes made up of
square modules which might be no more than a few pixels in size. We
had to do that in order to establish Semacode, a local start up
company that makes a software barcode reader for cell phones. The
applications vary from ubiquitous computing to advertising. Simon
Woodside (founder) will discuss what it's like to start a business and
how the imaging code works.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-07-17" time="11:59 PM"
room="MC3036" title="Midnight Madness, Alpha Edition">
<short>Come out to discuss current &amp; future plans/projects for the Club</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Club (CSClub) has "new" DEC Alphas which are most awesome. Come out, help take them part, put them back
together, solder, and eat free food (probably pizza).
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-06-21" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC4042" title="CSC General Meeting">
<short>Come out to discuss current &amp; future plans/projects for the Club</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The venue will include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Computer usage agreement discussion (Holden has some changes he'd like to propse)</li><br />
<li>Web site - Juti is redisigning the web site (you can see <a href="/beta/">a beta here</a> - ideas are welcome.</li><br />
<li>Frosh linux cd's that could be put in frosh math faculty kits.</li><br />
<li>VoIP "not phone services" ideas.</li><br />
<li>Ideas for talks (people, topics, etc...). We requested Steve Jobs and Steve Balmer, so no idea is too crazy.</li><br />
<li>Ideas for books.</li><br />
<li>General improvements/comments for the club.</li><br />
</ul>
</p>
<p>
If you have ideas, but can't attend, please email them to <a href="mailto:president@csclub.uwaterloo.ca">president@csclub.uwaterloo.ca</a> and they will be read them at the meeting.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-05-25" time="4:00 PM" room="MC 4060" title="Eighteen Years in the Software Tools Business">
<short>Eighteen Years in the Software Tools Business at Microsoft, a talk by Rico Mariani, (BMath CS/EEE 1988)</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Rico Mariani, (BMath CS/EEE 1988) now an (almost) 18 year Microsoft veteran but then a CSC president comes to talk to us about the
evolution of software tools for microcomputers. This talk promises to be a little bit about history and perspective (at least from
the Microsoft side of things) as well as the evolution of software engineers, different types of programmers and their needs, and what
it's like to try to make the software industry more effective at what it does, and sometimes succeed!
</p>
<p>
A video of the talk is available for download in our <a href="/media/">media</a> section.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-05-14" time="1:00 PM" room="CSC" title="Unix 101 and 102 Recording">
<short>Unix 101 and 102 recording</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Have you heard of our famous Unix 101 and Unix 102 tutorials. We've decided to try
and put them on the web. This sunday we will be doing a first take.
At the same time, we're going to be looking at adding new material
that we haven't covered in the past. </p>
<p>
Why should you come out? Not only will you get to hang out with a wonderful group of people,
you can help impart your knowledge to the world. Don't know anything about unix? Thats cool too,
we need people to make sure its easy to follow along and hopefully keep us from leaving something
out by mistake.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-05-13" time="1:00 PM" room="CSC" title="Video 4 Linux Day">
<short> We don't know enough about V4L</short>
<abstract>
<p>
We don't know Video 4 Linux, but increasingly people are wanting to do interesting stuff with our webcam which
could benefit from a better understanding of Video 4 Linux. So, this saturday a number of us will be trying to learn
as much as possible about Video 4 Linux and doing wierd things with webcam(s).
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-05-08" time="4:30 PM" room="The Comfy Lounge" title="CSC
Elections">
<short>Come out and vote for the Spring 2006 executive!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Club will be holding its elections for the Spring 2006
term on Monday, May 8th. The elections will be held at 4:30 PM in the
Comfy Lounge, on the 3rd floor of the MC. Please remember to come out and
vote!
</p>
<p>
We are accepting nominations for the following positions: President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The nomination period continues
until 4:30 PM on Sunday, May 7th. If you are interested in running for
a position, or would like to nominate someone else, please email
cro@csclub.uwaterloo.ca before the deadline.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2006 -->
<eventitem date="2006-03-06" time="4:45 PM"
room="Physics 145" title="Creating Killer Applications">
<short>A talk by Larry Smith</short>
<abstract>
<p>
A discussion of how software creators can identify application opportunities
that offer the promise of great social and commercial significance. Particular
attention will be paid to the challenge of acquiring cross domain knowledge
and setting up effective collaboration.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2006-02-09" time="5:30 PM" room="Bombshelter Pub" title="Pints With Profs">
<short>Come out and meet your professors. Free food provided!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Come out and meet your professors! This is a great opportunity to
mingle with your professors before midterms or find out who you might
have for future courses. All are welcome!</p>
<p>Best of all, there will be <strong>free food!</strong></p>
<p>You can pick up invitations for your professors at the Computer Science
Club office in MC 3036.</p>
<p>Pints with Profs will be held this term on Thursday, 9 February 2006
from 5:30 to 8:00 PM in the Bombshelter.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 2005 -->
<eventitem date="2005-11-29" time="5:30 PM"
room="TBA" title="Programming Contest">
<short>Come out, program, and win shiney things!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science club is holding a programming contest open to all students on tuesday the 29th of november at 5:30PM. C++,C,Perl,Scheme* are allowed. Prizes totalling in value of $75 will be distributed.
</p>
<p>And best of all... free food!!!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-10-17" time="5:30 PM"
room="Fishbowl" title="Party with Profs!">
<short>Get to know your profs and be the envy of your
friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Come out and meet your professors!! This is a great opportunity to
meet professors for Undergraduate Research jobs or to find out who
you might have for future courses. One and all are welcome!
</p>
<p>And best of all... free food!!!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-10-11" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 103: Scripting Unix">
<short>You Too Can Be a Unix Taskmaster</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This is the third in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of applications, both
in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on experience
with the Math Faculty's UNIX environment in this tutorial.
</p><p>
Topics that will be discussed include:
<ul>
<li>Shell scripting</li>
<li>Searching through text files</li>
<li>Batch editing text files</li>
</ul>
</p><p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent to
you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-10-06" time="4:30 PM" room="MC3D 2037" title="UNIX 102">
<short>Fun with Unix</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This is the second in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
Unix Operating System. Unix is used in a variety of
applications, both in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on
experience with the Math Faculty's Unix environment in this tutorial.
</p>
<p>
Topics that will be discussed include:
<ul>
<li>Interacting with Bourne and C shells</li>
<li>Editing text using the vi text editor</li>
<li>Editing text using the Emacs display editor</li>
<li>Multi-tasking and the screen multiplexer</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent to
you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-10-04" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 101">
<short>First UNIX tutorial</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The CSC UNIX tutorials are intended to help first year CS and other
interested learn UNIX and the CS UNIX environment.
</p>
<p>
This is the first in a series of two or three tutorials. It will cover basic shell
use, and simple text editors.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Summer 2005 -->
<eventitem date="2005-06-02" time="3:30 PM" room="DC 1302" title="Programming and Verifying the Interactive Web">
<short>Shriram Krishnamurthi will be talking about continuations in Web Programming</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Server-side Web applications have grown increasingly common, sometimes
even replacing brick and mortar as the principal interface of
corporations. Correspondingly, Web browsers grow ever more powerful,
empowering users to attach bookmarks, switch between pages, clone
windows, and so forth. As a result, Web interactions are not
straight-line dialogs but complex nets of interaction steps.
</p>
<p>
In practice, programmers are unaware of or are unable to handle these
nets of interaction, making the Web interfaces of even major
organizations buggy and thus unreliable. Even when programmers do
address these constraints, the resulting programs have a seemingly
mangled structure, making them difficult to develop and hard to
maintain.
</p>
<p>
In this talk, I will describe these interactions and then show how
programming language ideas can shed light on the resulting problems
and present solutions at various levels. I will also describe some
challenges these programs pose to computer-aided verification, and
present solutions to these problems.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-06-07" time="4:00 PM" room="MC 4042" title="UW's CS curriculum: past, present, and future">
<short>Come out to here Prabhakar Ragde talk about our UW's CS curriculum</short>
<abstract>
<p>
I'll survey the evolution of our computer science curriculum over the
past thirty-five years to try to convey the reasons (not always entirely
rational) behind our current mix of courses and their division into core
and optional. After some remarks about constraints and opportunities in
the near future, I'll open the floor to discussion, and hope to hear
some candid comments about the state of CS at UW and how it might be
improved.
</p><br></br>
About the speaker:<br></br>
<p>
Prabhakar Ragde is a Professor in the School of Computer Science at UW.
He was Associate Chair for Curricula during the period that saw the
creation of the Bioinformatics and Software Engineering programs, the
creation of the BCS degree, and the strengthening of the BMath/CS degree.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2005 -->
<eventitem date="2005-03-15" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 4060" title="Oh No! More Lemmings Day!">
<short>Come out for some retro Amiga-style Lemmings gaming action!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Does being in CS make you feel like a lemming? Is linear algebra driving you
into walls? Do you pace back and forth, constantly, regardless of whatever's
in your path? Then you should come out to CSC Lemmings Day. This time, we're
playing the pseudo-sequel: Oh No! More Lemmings!
</p>
<ul>
<li>Old-skool retro gaming, Amiga-style (2 mice, 2 players!)</li>
<li>Projector screen: the pixels are man-sized!</li>
<li>Live-Action Lemmings (the rules are better this time)</li>
<li>Lemmings look-alike contest</li>
<li>Enjoy classic Lemmings tunes</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-02-01" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 102">
<short>Fun with Unix</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This is the second in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
Unix Operating System. Unix is used in a variety of
applications, both in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on
experience with the Math Faculty's Unix environment in this tutorial.
</p>
<p>
Topics that will be discussed include:
<ul>
<li>Interacting with Bourne and C shells</li>
<li>Editing text using the vi text editor</li>
<li>Editing text using the Emacs display editor</li>
<li>Multi-tasking and the screen multiplexer</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent to
you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-01-25" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 101">
<short>First UNIX tutorial</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The CSC UNIX tutorials are intended to help first year CS and other
interested learn UNIX and the CS UNIX environment.
</p>
<p>
This is the first in a series of two or three tutorials. It will cover basic shell
use, and simple text editors.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2005-01-13" time="4:30 PM" room="The Comfy Lounge" title="CSC
Elections">
<short>Come out and vote for the Winter 2005 executive!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Club will be holding its elections for the Winter 2005
term on Thursday, January 13. The elections will be held at 4:30 PM in the
Comfy Lounge, on the 3rd floor of the MC. Please remember to come out and
vote!
</p>
<p>
We are accepting nominations for the following positions: President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The nomination period continues
until 4:30 PM on Wednesday, January 12. If you are interested in running for
a position, or would like to nominate someone else, please email
cro@csclub.uwaterloo.ca before the deadline.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 2004 -->
<eventitem date="2004-12-08" time="4:30 PM" room="Mongolian Grill"
title="CTRL-D">
<short> This semesters CTRL-D (or the club that really likes
dinner) is going to be at mongolian grill. Be there or be square</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Come to the end of term CTRL-D (club that really likes dinner) meeting.
Remember : food is good
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-12-01" time="2:30 PM" room="MC 4058" title="Knitting needles, hairpins and other tangled objects">
<short>In this talk, I'll study linkages (objects built from sticks that are connected with flexible joints), and explain some
interesting examples that can or cannot be straightened out</short>
<abstract>
<p>
In this talk, I'll study linkages (objects built from sticks that are connected with flexible joints), and explain some
interesting examples that can or cannot be straightened out</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-11-24" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2066" title="Eclipse">
<short>How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the IDE</short>
<abstract>
<p>
How I stopped worrying and Learned to Love the IDE
</p>
<p>
Audience: anyone who as ever used the Java programming language to do anything. Especially if you don't like
the IDEs you've seen so far or still use (g)Vi(m) or (X)Emacs.
</p>
<p>
I'll go through some of the coolest features of the best IDE (which stands for "IDEs Don't Eat" or
"Integrated Development Environment") I've seen. For the first year and seasoned almost-grad alike!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-11-18" time="5:00 PM" room="MC 2066" title="GracefulTavi">
<short>Wiki software in PHP+MySQL</short>
<abstract>
<p>
GracefulTavi is an open source wiki programmed by Net Integration
Technologies Inc. It is used internally by more than 25 people, and is
the primary internal wiki for NITI's R&amp;D and QA.
</p>
<p>
I'll start with a very brief introduction to wikis in general, then
show off our special features: super-condensed formatting syntax,
hierarchy management, version control, highlighted diffs, SchedUlator,
the Table of Contents generator. As part of this, we'll explain the
simple plugin architecture and show people how to write a basic wiki
plugin.
</p>
<p>
As well, I will show some of the "waterloo specific" macros that have
been coded, and explain future plans for GracefulTavi.
</p>
<p>
If time permits, I will explain how gracefulTavi can be easily used
for a personal calendar and notepad system on your laptop.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-11-12" time="2:30 PM" room="MC 4063" title="Lemmings Day!">
<short>Everyone else is doing it!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Does being in CS make you feel like a lemming? Is linear algebra driving you into walls? Do you pace back and forth , constantly ,
regardless of whatever's in your path? Then you should come out to CSC Lemmings Day!
</p><p>
<ul>
<li>Play some old-skool Lemmings, Amiga-style</li>
<li>Live-action lemmings</li>
<li>Lemmings look-alike contest</li>
<li>Enjoy classic Lemmings tunes</li>
</ul>
</p><p>
Everyone else is doing it!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-10-23" time="11:00 PM" room="MC 2037" title="CSC Programming Contest">
<short>CSC Programming Contest</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Clib will be hosting a programming competition.
You have the entire afternoon to design and implement an AI for a simple
game. The competition will run until 5pm.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-10-18" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 103: Scripting Unix">
<short>You Too Can Be a Unix Taskmaster</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This is the third in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of applications, both
in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on experience
with the Math Faculty's UNIX environment in this tutorial.
</p><p>
Topics that will be discussed include:
<ul>
<li>Shell scripting</li>
<li>Searching through text files</li>
<li>Batch editing text files</li>
</ul>
</p><p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent to
you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-10-04" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 102">
<short>Fun with Unix</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This is the second in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
Unix Operating System. Unix is used in a variety of
applications, both in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on
experience with the Math Faculty's Unix environment in this tutorial.
</p>
<p>
Topics that will be discussed include:
<ul>
<li>Interacting with Bourne and C shells</li>
<li>Editing text using the vi text editor</li>
<li>Editing text using the Emacs display editor</li>
<li>Multi-tasking and the screen multiplexer</li>
</ul>
</p>
<p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent to
you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Spring 2004 -->
<eventitem date="2004-09-27" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2037" title="UNIX 101">
<short>First UNIX tutorial</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The CSC UNIX tutorials are intended to help first year CS and other
interested learn UNIX and the CS UNIX environment.
</p>
<p>
This is the first in a series of three tutorials. It will cover basic shell
use, and simple text editors.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-09-17" time="4:00 PM" room="The Comfy Lounge" title="CSC
Elections">
<short>Come out and vote for the Fall 2004 executive!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Club will be holding its elections for the Fall 2004
term on Friday, September 17. The elections will be held at 4:00 PM in the
Comfy Lounge, on the 3rd floor of the MC. Please remember to come out and
vote!
</p>
<p>
We are accepting nominations for the following positions: President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The nomination period continues
until 4:30 PM on Thursday, September 16. If you are interested in running
for a position, or would like to nominate someone else, please email
cro@csclub.uwaterloo.ca before the deadline.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-07-27" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2065"
title="Game Complexity Theorists Ponder, by Jonathan Buss">
<short>Attention AI buffs: Game Complexity presentation</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Why are some games hard to play well? The study of computational
complexity gives one answer: the games encode long computations.</p>
<p>Any computation can be interpreted as an abstract game. Playing the
game perfectly requires performing the computation. Remarkably, some
natural games can encode these abstract games and thus simulate
general computations. The more complex the game, the more complex the
computations it can encode; games that can encode intractable problems
are themselves intractable.</p>
<p>
I will describe how games can encode computations, and discuss some
examples of both provably hard games (checkers, chess, go, etc.) and
games that are believed to be hard (hex, jigsaw puzzles, etc.).
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-07-17" time="11:30 AM" room="RCH 308"
title="Case Modding Workshop!">
<short>Come and learn how to make your computer 1337!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Are you bored of beige?<br />
Tired of an overheating computer?<br />
Is your computer's noise level on par with a jet engine?
</p>
<p>
Got a nifty modded case?<br />
Want one?
</p>
<p>
The Computer Science Club will be holding a Case Modding Workshop
to help answer these questions.
</p>
<p>
There will be demonstrations on how to make a case window, how
to paint your case, managing cables and keeping your computer
quiet and cool.
</p>
<p>
The event is FREE and there will be FREE PIZZA. All are welcome!
</p>
<p>
To help you on your way to getting a wicked computer case, we have a limited
number of "Case Modding Starters Kits" available. They come with an LED fan,
a fan grill, a sheet of Plexan, thumbscrews, wire ties, and more! They're
only $10 and will be on sale at the event. Here's a <a
href="redkit.jpg">picture</a>.
</p>
<p>
If you already have a modded case, we encourage you to bring it out
and show it off! There will be a prize for the best case!!
</p>
<p>
We hope to see you there!
</p>
<p>
This event is sponsored by Bigfoot Computers.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-06-17" time="4:00 PM" room="MC 2066"
title="``Optical Snow'': Motion parallax and heading computation in densely cluttered scenes. -or- Why Computer Vision needs the Fourier Transform!">
<short>A talk by Richard Mann; School of Computer Science</short>
<abstract>
<p>
When an observer moves through a 3D scene, nearby surfaces move faster in the
image than do distant surfaces. This effect, called motion parallax, provides
an observer with information both about their own motion relative the scene,
and about the spatial layout and depth of surfaces in the scene.
</p>
<p>
Classical methods for measuring image motion by computer have concentrated on
the cases of optical flow in which the motion field is continuous, or layered
motion in which the motion field is piecewise continuous. Here we introduce a
third natural category which we call ``optical snow''. Optical snow arises in
many natural situations such as camera motion in a highly cluttered 3-D scene,
or a passive observer watching a snowfall. Optical snow yields dense motion
parallax with depth discontinuities occurring near all image points. As such,
constraints on smoothness or even smoothness in layers do not apply.
</p>
<p>
We present a Fourier analysis of optical snow. In particular we show that,
while such scenes appear complex in the time domain, there is a simple
structure in the frequency domain, and this may be used to determine the
direction of motion and the range of depths of objects in the scenes. Finally
we show how Fourier analysis of two or more image regions may be combined to
estimate heading direction.
</p>
<p>
This talk will present current research at the undergraduate level. All are
welcome to attend.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-05-26" time="5:30 PM"
room="DC 1350" title="Computing's Next Great Empires: The True Future of Software">
<short>A talk by Larry Smith</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Larry will challenge conventional assumptions about the directions of
computing and software. The role of AI, expert systems, communications
software and business applications will be presented both from a
functional and commercial point of view. The great gaps in the
marketplace will be highlighted, together with an indication of how
these vacant fields will become home to new empires.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-05-12" time="4:30 PM"
room="The Comfy Lounge" title="CSC Elections">
<short>Come out and vote for the Spring 2004 executive!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The Computer Science Club will be holding its elections for the Spring
2004 term on Wednesday, May 12. The elections will be held at 4:30 PM in
the Comfy Lounge, on the 3rd floor of the MC. Please remember to come out
and vote!
</p>
<p>
We are accepting nominations for the following positions: President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The nomination period continues
until 4:30 PM on Tuesday, May 11. If you are interested in running
for a position, or would like to nominate someone else, please email
cro@csclub.uwaterloo.ca before the deadline.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2004 -->
<eventitem date="2004-03-29" time="6:00 PM"
room="MC 4058" title="LaTeXing your work report">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The work report is a familiar chore for any co-op student. Not only is
there a report to write, but to add insult to injury, your report is
returned if you do not follow your departmental guidelines.
</p>
<p>
Fear no more! In this talk, you will learn how to use LaTeX and a
specially developed class to automatically format your work reports.
This talk is especially useful to Mathematics, Computer Science,
Electrical &amp; Computer Engineering, and Software Engineeering co-op
students about to go on work term.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-03-30" time="5:30 PM"
room="The Grad House" title="Pints with Profs!">
<short>Get to know your profs and be the envy of your
friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Come out and meet your professors!! This is a great opportunity to
meet professors for Undergraduate Research jobs or to find out who
you might have for future courses. One and all are welcome!
</p>
<p>And best of all... free food!!!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-03-23" time="6:00 PM"
room="MC4058" title="Extending LaTeX with packages">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>
LaTeX is a document processing system. What this means is you describe
the structure of your document, and LaTeX typesets it appealingly.
However, LaTeX was developed in the late-80s and is now showing its age.
</p>
<p>
How does it compete against modern systems? By being easily extensible,
of course. This talk will describe the fundamentals of typesetting in
LaTeX, and will then show you how to extend it with freely available
packages. You will learn how to teach yourself LaTeX and how to find
extensions that do what you want.
</p>
<p>
As well, there will be a short introduction on creating your own
packages, for your own personal use.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-03-16" time="6:00 PM"
room="MC4058" title="Distributed programming for CS and Engineering
students">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>
If you've ever worked with other group members, you know how difficult
it is to code simultaneously. You might be working on one part of your
assignment, and you need to send your source code to everyone else. Or
you might be fixing a bug in someone else's part, and need to merge in
the change. What a mess!
</p>
<p>
This talk will explain some Best Practices for developing code in a
distributed fashion. Whether you're working side-by-side in the lab, or
developing from home, these methods can apply to your team. You will
learn how to apply these techniques in the Unix environment using GNU
Make, CVS, GNU diff and patch.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-03-15" time="5:30 PM"
room="MC4040" title="SPARC Architecture">
<short>A talk by James Morrison</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Making a compiler? Bored? Think CISC sucks and RISC rules?
</p>
<p>
This talk will run through the SPARC v8, IEEE-P1754, architecture.
Including all the fun that can be had with register windows and the
SPARC instruction set including the basic instructions, floating
point instructions, and vector instructions.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-03-09" time="6:00 PM"
room="MC4062" title="Managing your home directory using CVS">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>
If you have used Unix for a while, you know that you've created
configuration files, or dotfiles. Each program seems to want its own
particular settings, and you want to customize your environment. In a
power-user's directory, you could have hundreds of these files.
</p>
<p>
Isn't it annoying to migrate your configuration if you login to another
machine? What if you build a new computer? Or perhaps you made a
mistake to one of your configuration files, and want to undo it?
</p>
<p>
In this talk, I will show you how to manage your home directory using
CVS, the Concurrent Versions System. You can manage your files, revert
to old versions in the past, and even send them over the network to
another machine. I'll also discuss how to keep your configuration files
portable, so they'll work even on different Unices, with different
software installed.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-03-02" time="6:00 PM"
room="MC4042" title="Graphing webs-of-trust">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>
In today's world, people have hundreds of connexions. And you can
express these connexions with a graph. For instance, you may wish to
represent the network of your friends.
</p>
<p>
Originally, webs-of-trust were directed acyclic graphs of people who had
identified each other. This way, if there was a path between you and
the person who want to identify, then you could assume that each person
along that path had verified the next person's identity.
</p>
<p>
I will show you how to generate your own web-of-trust graph using Free
Software. Of course, you can also use this knowledge to graph anything
you like.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-02-18" time="7:00 PM"
room="DC2305" title="KW Perl Mongers">
<short>Perl Modules: A look under the hood</short>
<abstract>
<p>In Perl, a module is the basic unit of code-reuse. The talk will be
mostly a look into GD::Text::Arc, a module written to draw TrueType text
around the edge of a circle. The talk will consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>using and writing object-oriented perl code</li>
<li>the Virtue of Laziness: or, reusing other peoples' code.</li>
<li>writing tests while coding</li>
<li>beer coasters</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-02-05" time="3:30 PM"
room="MC4041" title="Constitutional Change">
<short>Vote to change the CSC Constitution</short>
<abstract>
<p>During the General Meeting on 19 January 2004, a proposed constitution
change was passed around. This change is in response to a change in the
MathSoc Clubs Policy (Policy 4, Section 3, Sub-section f).</p>
<p>This general meeting is called to vote on this proposed change. We must
have quorum of 15 Full Members vote on this change. The following text was
presented at the CSC Winter 2004 Elections.</p>
<pre>We propose to make a Constitutional change on this day, 19 January 2004.
The proposed change is to section 3.1 of the constitution which
currently reads:
In compliance with MathSoc regulations and in recognition of the
club being primarily targeted at undergraduate students, full
membership is open to all undergraduate students in the Faculty of
Mathematics and restricted to the same.
Since MathSoc has changed its requirements for club membership, we
propose that it be changed to:
In compliance with MathSoc regulations and in recognition of the
club being primarily targeted at undergraduate students, full
membership is open to all Social Members of the Mathematics Society
and restricted to the same.</pre>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2004-01-12" time="3:00 PM"
room="DC1301" title="InstallFest">
<short>See <a href="http://uw-dig.uwaterloo.ca/installfest/">http://uw-dig.uwaterloo.ca/installfest/</a></short>
<abstract>
<p>An Installfest is an opportunity to install software on your computer.
People come with computers. Other people come with experience. The people
get together and (when all goes well) everybody leaves satisfied.</p>
<p>You are invited to our first installfest of the year. Come to get some
software or to learn more about Open Source Software and why it is relevant
to your life. The event is free, but you may want to bring blank CDs and/or
money to purchase some open source action for your computer at home.</p>
<p>See the <a href="http://uw-dig.uwaterloo.ca/installfest/">UW-DIG
website</a> for more details.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 2003 -->
<eventitem date="2003-12-01" time="7:00 PM"
room="RCH 101" title="Jon 'maddog' Hall: Free and Open Source: Its uses in Business and Education">
<short> Free and Open Source software has been around for a long
time, even longer then shrink-wrapped code.</short>
<abstract>
<p>Free and Open Source software has been around for a long time, even
longer then shrink-wrapped code. It has a long and noble history in the annals
of education. Even more than ever, due to the drop of hardware prices and the
increase of worldwide communications, Free and Open Source can open new
avenues of teaching and doing research, not only in computer science, but in
other university fields as well.</p>
<p>Learn how Linux as an operating system can
run on anything from a PDA to a supercomputer, and how Linux is reducing the
cost of computing dramatically as the fastest growing operating system in the
world. Learn how other Free and Open Source projects, such as office suites,
audio and video editing and playing software, relational databases, etc. are
created and are freely available.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/~cpbell/">Map and directions</a></p>
<h3>Speaker's Biography</h3>
<p>Jon "maddog" Hall is the Executive Director of <a href="http://www.li.org/">Linux International</a>,
a non-profit association of computer vendors who wish to support and promote
the Linux Operating System. During his career which spans over thirty years,
Mr. Hall has been a programmer, systems designer, systems administrator,
product manager, technical marketing manager and educator. He has
worked for such companies as Western Electric Corporation, Aetna Life and
Casualty, Bell Laboratories, Digital Equipment Corporation, VA Linux Systems,
and is currently funded by SGI.</p>
<p>He has taught at Hartford State Technical College, Merrimack College and
Daniel Webster College. He still likes talking to students over pizza and beer
(the pizza can be optional).</p>
<p>Mr. Hall is the author of numerous magazine and newspaper articles, many
presentations and one book, "Linux for Dummies".</p>
<p>Mr. Hall serves on the boards of several companies, and several non-profit
organizations, including the USENIX Association.</p>
<p>Mr. Hall has traveled the world speaking on the benefits of Open Source
Software, and received his BS in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel
University, and his MSCS from RPI in Troy, New York.</p>
<p>In his spare time maddog is working on his retirement project:</p>
<center>maddog's monastery for microcomputing and microbrewing</center>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-11-05" time="4:30 PM - 8:30 PM"
room="Grad House Pub (Green Room)" title="CS Pints With Profs">
<short>Come have a pint with your favourite CS profs!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Come meet CS profs in a relaxed atmosphere this Wednesday at
the Grad House (by South Campus Hall). This is your chance to meet those CS profs
you enjoyed in lectures in person, have a chat with them
and find out what they're doing outside the lecture halls.</p>
<p>We'll be providing free food, including hamburgers and nachos,
and the Grad House offers a great selection of drinks.</p>
<p>If you'd like to invite a particular prof, stop by on the third
floor of the MC (outside of the Comfy) to pick up an invitation.</p>
<p>Persons of all ages are welcome!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-10-21" time="4:30 PM - 5:30 PM" room="MC2065"
title=".NET &amp; Linux: When Worlds Collide">
<short>A talk by James Perry</short>
<abstract>
<p>.NET is Microsoft's new development platform, including amongst
other things a language called C# and a class library for various
operating system services. .NET aims to be portable, although it is
currently mostly only used on Windows systems.</p>
<p>With the full backing of Microsoft, it seems unlikely that .NET
will disappear any time soon. There are several efforts underway to
bring .NET to the GNU/Linux platform. Hosted by the Computer Science
Club, this talk will discuss a number of the issues surrounding .NET
and Linux.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-10-22" time="4:30 PM - 5:30 PM" room="MC4061"
title="Real-Time Graphics Compilers">
<short>Sh is a GPU metaprogramming language developed at the UW
Computer Graphics Lab</short>
<abstract>
<p>Sh is a GPU metaprogramming language developed at the University of
Waterloo Computer Graphics Lab. It allows graphics programmers to
write programs which run directly on the GPU (Graphics Processing
Unit) using familiar C++ syntax. Furthermore, it allows
metaprogramming of such programs, that is, writing programs which
generate other programs, in an easy and natural manner.</p>
<p>This talk will give a brief overview of how Sh works, the design of
its intermediate representation and the (still somewhat simplistic)
optimizer that the current reference implementation has and problems
with applying traditional compiler optimizations.</p>
<p>Stefanus Du Toit is an undergraduate student at the University of
Waterloo. He is also a Research Assistant for Michael McCool from the
University of Waterloo Graphics Lab. Over the Summer of 2003 Stefanus
reimplemented the Sh reference implementation and designed and
implemented the current Sh optimizer.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-10-17" time="3:00 PM" room="MC3001 (Comfy)"
title="Poster Team Meeting">
<short>More free pizza from the Poster Team</short>
<abstract>
<p>Are you interested in getting involved in the Computer Science
Club?</p>
<p>Come on out to the second meeting of our Poster Team, a bunch of
students helping out with promotion for our events. The agenda for
this meeting will include painting posters, designing event
invitations, and organizing poster runs. Once again, we will be
serving free pizza!</p>
<p>See you there!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-10-16" time="4:00 PM - 5:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="UNIX 103: Development Tools">
<short>GCC, GDB, Make</short>
<abstract>
<p>This tutorial will provide you with a practical introduction to GNU
development tools on Unix such as the gcc compiler, the gdb debugger
and the GNU make build tool.</p>
<p>This talk is geared primarily at those mostly unfamiliar with these
tools. Amongst other things we will introduce:</p>
<ul>
<li>gcc options, version differences, and peculiarities</li>
<li>using gdb to debug segfaults, set breakpoints and find out what's
wrong</li>
<li>tiny Makefiles that will compile all of your 2nd and 3rd year CS
projects.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you're in second year CS and unfamiliar with UNIX development it
is highly recommended you go to this talk. All are welcome, including
non-math students.</p>
<p>Arrive early!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-10-02" time="4:00 PM - 5:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="UNIX 101: Text Editors">
<short>vi vs. emacs: The Ultimate Showdown</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Have you ever wondered how those cryptic UNIX text editors work? Have you
ever woken up at night with a cold sweat wondering "Is it CTRL-A, or CTRL-X
CTRL-A?" Do you just hate pico with a passion?</p>
<p>Then come to this tutorial and learn how to use vi and emacs!</p>
<p>Basic UNIX commands will also be covered. This tutorial will be especially
useful for first and second year students.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-10-06" time="4:00 PM" room="MC3001 (Comfy)"
title="Poster Team Meeting">
<short>Join the Poster Team and get Free Pizza!</short>
<abstract>
<ul>
<li>Do you like computer science?</li>
<li>Do you like posters?</li>
<li>Do you like free pizza?</li>
</ul>
<p>If the answer to one of these questions is yes, then come
out to the first meeting of the Computer Science Club Poster Team! The
CSC is looking for interested students to help out with promotion and
publicity for this term's events. We promise good times and free
pizza!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-09-17" time="4:30 PM" room="MC3001 (Comfy)"
title="CSC Elections">
<short>CSC Fall 2003 Elections</short>
<abstract>
<p>Elections will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 4:30 PM in the
Comfy Lounge, MC3001.</p>
<p>I invite you to nominate yourself or others for executive positions,
starting immediately. Simply e-mail me at cro@csclub.uwaterloo.ca
with the name of the person who is to be nominated and the position
they're nominated for.</p>
<p>Nominees must be full-time undergraduate students in Math. Sorry!</p>
<p>Positions open for elections are:</p>
<ul><li>President: Organises the club, appoints committees, keeps everyone busy.
If you have lots of ideas about the club in general and like bossing
people around, go for it!</li>
<li>Vice President: Organises events, acts as the president if he's not
available. If you have lots of ideas for events, and spare time, go
for it!</li>
<li>Treasurer: Keeps track of the club's finances. Gets to sign cheques
and stuff. If you enjoy dealing with money and have ideas on how to
spend it, go for it!</li>
<li>Secretary: Takes care of minutes and outside correspondence. If you
enjoy writing things down and want to use our nifty new letterhead
style, go for it!</li></ul>
<p>Nominations will be accepted until Tuesday, September 16 at 4:30 PM.</p>
<p>Additionally, a Sysadmin will be appointed after the elections. If you
like working with unix systems and have experience setting up and
maintaining them, go for it!</p>
<p>I hope that lots of people will show up; hopefully we'll have a great
term with plenty of events. We always need other volunteers, so if you
want to get involved just talk to the new exec after the
meeting. Librarians, webmasters, poster runners, etc. are always
sought after!</p>
<p>There will also be free pop.</p>
<p>Memberships can be purchased at the elections or at least half an hour
prior to at the CSC. Only undergrad math members can vote, but anyone can
become a member.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Spring 2003 -->
<eventitem date="2003-07-31" time="4:30 PM" room="MC4064"
title="LaTeX and Work Reports">
<short>Writing beautiful work reports</short>
<abstract>
<p>The work report is a familiar chore for any co-op student. Not only is
there a report to write, but to add insult to injury, your report is
returned if you do not follow your departmental guidelines.</p>
<p>Fear no more! In this talk, you will learn how to use LaTeX and a
specially developed class to automatically format your work reports.
This talk is especially useful to Mathematics, Computer Science,
Electrical &amp; Computer Engineering, and Software Engineeering co-op
students about to go on work term.</p>
<p><a
href="http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~sfllaw/programs/uw-wkrpt/">http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~sfllaw/programs/uw-wkrpt/</a></p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-07-24" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="vi: the visual editor">
<short>It's not 6.</short>
<abstract>
<p>In 1976, a University of California Berkeley student by the name of
Bill Joy got sick of his text editor, ex. So he hacked it such that
he could read his document as he wrote it. The result was "vi", which
stands for VIsual editor. Today, it is shipped with every modern
Unix system, due to its global influence.</p>
<p>In this talk, you will learn how to use vi to edit documents
quickly and efficiently. At the end, you should be able to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Navigate and search through documents</li>
<li>Cut, copy, and paste across documents</li>
<li>Search and replace regular expressions</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent
to you for the duration of this class.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-07-24" time="3:00 PM" room="CSC Office" title="July
Exec Meeting">
<short> See Abstract for minutes </short>
<abstract>
<pre>
--paying Simon for Sugar
-Unanimous yea.
-ACTION ITEM: Mark
Expense this to MathSoc in lieu of foreign speaker.
--We currently have (including CD-R and pop-income not
currently in safe) $972.85
-We have $359.02 on budget that we can expense to MathSoc.
--We got MEF money for books and video card. Funding for
wireless microphone is dependent on whether MFCF is
willing to host it.
-Funding for casters was denied.
-Shopping for the Video card.
-Expecting it after auguest (Stefanus shopping for it.)
-Will have to hear back regarding the microphone, best to
delay that now, discuss it with MEF.
-Better to do it this term, so it doesn't get lost.
-Let MFCF know about this concern.
-Regarding books, can be done anytime before September.
--Events feedback
-Generally, Jim Eliot talk when really well.
-Apparently he was generally offensive.
-When was the LaTeX talk? End of the month.
-Kegger at Jim's place on the 16th.
--Getting people in on the 6th, 7th, 8th for csc commercials
filmed by Jason
-Hang out in here, and he'll make a CSC commercial.
-Co-ordinate when everyone should be in here, so we can email Jason.
--CEO progress
-CEO needs it's database changed to use ISBN as a primary key.
-Needs functionality to take out/return books.
--Mark just entered financial stuff into GNUcash
--Choose CRO for next term.
-Stefanus has expressed desire not to be CRO.
-Gary Simmons was suggested (and he accepted)
-Unanimous yea
--Mike Biggs has to get here naked.
-Four unanimous votes.
-Nakedness only applies to getting here, not being here.
From last meeting:
ACTION ITEM: Biggs and Cass
-get labelmaker tape, masking tape
whiteboard makers, coloured paper, CD sleeves
-keep reciepts for CSC office expenses.
How is the progess on allowing executives and voters to be non-math
members?
-The vote is coming up Monday.
-Proposal: Anyone who is a paying member can be a member
-So you can either do two things:
Pay MathSoc fees, or
Get your faculty society to recognize CSC as a club.
Stefanus wanted to mention that we shoudl talk to Yolanda,
Craig or Louie about a EYT event for frosh week.
-Organized by Meg.
-Sugar Mountain trying to hook all the Frosh
ACTION ITEM: Jim
-Email Meg
Reminder for Next Year's executive.
-September 16th @ 5:00pm, get a table for Clubs day, and 17th
and 18th, maintain the booth (full day events).
-Update pamphlets.
ACTION ITEM: Gary
-There should be executive before then
Note: There needs to be a private section in the CSC Procedures Manual.
(Only accessible by shell)
ACTION ITEM: Simon
-Do it.
ACTION ITEM: Mike
-Talk to Plantops about:
-Locks on doors
-Mounting corkboard.
-Talk about CSC Sign
</pre>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-27" time="2:30 PM" room="DC1302"
title="Friday Flicks">
<short> SIGGRAPH Electronic Theatre Showing </short>
<abstract>
<p>
SIGGRAPH is the ACM's Special Interest Group for Graphics and
simultaneously the world's largest graphics conference and
exhibition, where the cutting edge of graphics research is presented
every year.
</p><p>
With support from UW's Computer Graphics Lab, the CSC invites you to
capture a glimpse of SIGGRAPH 2002. We will be presenting the
Electronic Theatre showings from 2002, demonstrating the best of the
animated, CG-produced movies presented at SIGGRAPH.
</p><p> Don't miss this free showing!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-07-08" time="4:00 PM" room="MC2065"
title="Mainframes and Linux">
<short>A talk by Jim Elliott. Jim is responsible for IBM's in Open Source
activities and IBM's mainframe operating systems for Canada and the
Carribbean.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Linux and Open Source have become a significant reality in the
working world of Information Technology. An indirect result has been a
"rebirth" of the mainframe as a strategic platform for enterprise
computing. In this session Jim Elliott, IBM's Linux Advocate, will provide
an overview of these technologies and an inside look at IBM's participation
in the community. Jim will examine Linux usage on the desktop, embedded
systems and servers, a reality check on the common misconceptions that
surround Linux and Open Source, and an overview of the history and current
design of IBM's mainframe servers.</p>
<p>
Jim Elliott is the Linux Advocate for IBM Canada. He is responsible
for IBM's participation in Linux and Open Source activities and IBM's
mainframe operating systems in Canada and the Caribbean. Jim is a popular
speaker on Linux and Open Source at conferences and user groups across the
Americas and Europe and has spoken to over 300 organizations over the past
three years. Over his 30 years with IBM he has been the co-author of over
15 IBM publications and he also coordinated the launch of Linux on IBM
mainframes in the Americas. In his spare time, Jim is addicted to reading
historical mystery novels and travel to their locales.
</p>
<p><a href="http://www.vm.ibm.com/devpages/jelliott/events.html">Slides</a>
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-07-04" time="3:30 PM" room="University of Guelph"
title="Guelph Trip">
<short>Come Visit the University of Guelph's Computer Science Club</short>
<abstract><p>
The University of Waterloo Computer Science Club is going to visit the
University of Guelph Computer Science Club. There will be a talk given
as well as dinner with a fun social atmosphere.</p><p>Drivers Wanted</p>
<p>Cancelled -- sorry Guelph cancelled on us.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-07-17" time="4:30 PM" room="MC4064"
title="Sh">
<short>Metaprogramming your way to stunning effects.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Modern graphics processors allow developers to upload small "shader
programs" to the GPU, which can be executed per-vertex or even
per-pixel during the rendering. Such shaders allow stunning effects to
be performed in real-time, but unfortunately aren't very easy to
program since one generally has to write them at the assembly level.
</p><p>
Recently a few high-level languages for shader programming have become
available. Sh, a result of research at UW, is one such language. It
allows programming powerful shaders in simple and intuitive ways. Sh
is particularily interesting because of the way it is
implemented. Instead of coming up with a language grammar and writing
a full-fledged compiler, Sh is implemented as a C++ library, and
shader programs are effectively written in C++. The actual compilation
then takes place in a manner similar to JIT (Just-in-time)
compilers. This has many advantages over the traditional approach,
including C++'s familiar syntax for users, and much less work for the
Sh implementers.
</p><p>
In this talk I will give an overview of GPUs and the Sh language as
well as some interesting details on how Sh was implemented.
</p><p> <!-- Is there a bio tag -->
Stefanus Du Toit is a research assistant at the University of
Waterloo. He has implemented the current version of Sh from scratch
and is actively developing it under supervision of Michael McCool, the
original designer of the language.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-19" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="vi: the visual editor">
<short>It's not 6.</short>
<abstract>
<p>In 1976, a University of California Berkeley student by the name of
Bill Joy got sick of his text editor, ex. So he hacked it such that
he could read his document as he wrote it. The result was "vi", which
stands for VIsual editor. Today, it is shipped with every modern
Unix system, due to its global influence.</p>
<p>In this talk, you will learn how to use vi to edit documents
quickly and efficiently. At the end, you should be able to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Navigate and search through documents</li>
<li>Cut, copy, and paste across documents</li>
<li>Search and replace regular expressions</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent
to you for the duration of this class.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-12" time="3:30 PM" room="MC3036 CSC Office" title="June 12 Exec Meeting">
<short>Have an issue that should be brought up? We'd love to hear it!</short>
<abstract>
<pre>
Budget: All the money we requested
--No money from Pints from Profs
--MathSoc has promised us $1250
Feedback from Completed Events
UNIX Talks: 17 people for first
--12 people for second
--Things going well
--Last talk today
--VI next week
IPsec
--Sparse crowd
--People Jim didn't know talked to him for 1/2 hour
History of CSC talk went well
--Good variety of people
Pints with Profs
--NO CS Profs
--Only 1 E&amp; CE prof
--Only 2 Math profs
--Jim will harrass the profs at the School of CS Council meeting.
We're starting to fall behind in planning
RoShamBo rules
--Got a web site up
--Might have to move RSB back
--International site has a few test samples
--Stefanus had some ideas
--Coding will probably take an afternoon/evening
--We need volunteers to run the competition
--We have volunteers to code: Phil and Stefanus
ACTION ITEM: Phil and Stefanus
--code whatever you volunteered to code for.
--Mike intends to visit classes and directly advertise
--Email Christina Hotz
--GH guy: Mike has an abstract, will have posters by tomorrow
CSC Movie Night
--Mathnet, Hackers, Wargames, Tron
--Mike will get a room
--Will be closed member
Mike McCool is offering rooms for showing SIGGRAPH
ACTION ITEM: Jim
-check with Mike McCool.
ACTION ITEM: Mike
-Make posters for Movie Nights
When is other movie night? (Will plan some time in July)
Who is our foreign speaker?
Action Item: jelliot@ca.ibm.com (Check name first) about
getting a foreign speaker -- Note: Has already been contacted.
Simon got money from Engsoc
Cass meeds coloured paper (CSC is out)
ACTION ITEM: Cass and Mark
--get labelmaker tape, masking tape,
whiteboard makers, coloured paper
--keep reciepts for CSC office expenses
NOTICE: Mike is now Imapd
Simon distibuted budget list
Mark got the money from Mathsoc for last budget, deposited it.
ACTION ITEM:Mark
--Get MEF funding by July 4th (equipment)
ACTION ITEM: Simon
--Get WEEF funding by June 27th (book)
Jim still working on allowing executives and voters to be
non-math members
We get free photocopying from MathSoc
ACTION ITEM: Mike
--write down code for free photocopying from MathSoc
Simon has been able to get into the cscdisk account, still
looking into getting into the cscceo account.
Damien got an e-mail stating that the files for cscdisk are
out of date.
ACTION ITEM: Simon
--provide SSH key to Phil for getting into cscdisk, cscceo, etc...
--Renumber bootup scripts for sugar and powerpc so that they
boot up happily.
ACTION ITEM: Mike needs to do all the plantops stuff again.
ACTION ITEM: Mike -- &quot;Stapler if you say please&quot; sign.
CVS Tree for CEO has been exported.
Damien has volunteered to finish CEO (found by Cass)
All books with barcodes have been scanned
All books without barcodes need to be bar-coded.
ACTION ITEM: Mark
--Find a Credit-card with a $500 or less limit.
Note: There needs to be a private section in the
CSC Procedures Manual. (Only accessible by shell)
Stefanus Wanted to mention that we should talk to
Yolanda, Craig or Louie about a EYT event for Frosh Week.
</pre>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-10" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2066"
title="A Brief History of Computer Science">
<abstract>
<p>War, insanity, espionage, beauty, domination, sacrifice, and tragic
death... not what one might associate with the history of computer
science. In this talk I will focus on the origin of our discipline in
the fields of engineering, mathematics, and science, and on the
complicated personalities that shaped its evolution. No advanced
technical knowledge is required.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-09" time="5:00 - 9:00 PM" room="The Grad House"
title="Pints with Profs!">
<short>Get to know your profs and be the envy of your friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Come out and meet your professors!! This is a great opportunity to
meet professors for Undergraduate Research jobs or to find out who you might
have for future courses. One and all are welcome!</p>
<p>Best of all... free food!!!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-05-29" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 101: First Steps With Unix">
<short>Learn Unix and be the envy of your friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>This is the first in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
Unix Operating System. Unix is used in a variety of applications, both
in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on experience
with the Math Faculty's Unix environment in this seminar.</p>
<p>Topics that will be discussed include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the Unix environment</li>
<li>Using common Unix commands</li>
<li>Using the PICO text editor</li>
<li>Reading electronic mail and news with PINE</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent
to you for the duration of this class.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-05" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 102: Fun With Unix">
<short>Talking to your Unix can be fun and profitable</short>
<abstract>
<p>This is the second in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
Unix Operating System. Unix is used in a variety of applications, both in
academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on experience with
the Math Faculty's Unix environment in this tutorial.</p>
<p>Topics that will be discussed include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Interacting with Bourne and C shells</li>
<li>Editing text with the vi text editor</li>
<li>Editing text with the Emacs display editor</li>
<li>Multi-tasking and the screen multiplexer</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be
lent to you for the duration of this class</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-06-12" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 103: Scripting Unix">
<short>You too can be a Unix taskmaster</short>
<abstract>
<p>This is the third in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
Unix Operating System. Unix is used in a variety of applications, both in
academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on experience with
the Math Faculty's Unix environment in this tutorial.</p>
<p>Topics that will be discussed include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Shell scripting</li>
<li>Searching through text files</li>
<li>Batch editing text files</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be
lent to you for the duration of this class</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-05-22" time="4:30 PM" room="MC3036 CSC Office" title="May 22 Exec Meeting">
<short>The execs discuss what needs discussion</short>
<abstract>
<pre>
Minutes for CSC Exec Meeting
May 22, 2003
* Add staff to burners group.
-- Only office staff (people who do stuff) on burners list
-- No objections from executives
* We still need a webmaster, imapd
-- Action Item: Mike
--Check for pop delivery services (Like Grocery Gateway)
so that we can replace imapd with an automated cronjob
-- If this gets implemented, we must make sure that
someone is around to receive the pop whenever it is
delivered.
* Budgets
Action Item: Simon
-- Make sure execs receive a copy of the proposed budget
Action Item: Mark
-- Look into claiming money from Mathsoc for the last
term.
--Will be looked over the week after next Monday at the Mathsoc
Budget meeting.
--June 27th is the WEF (Engineering Endowment Fund) deadline
--EngSoc proposal for donations by the end of the month
-- Around 15 events planned
--Foreign Speaker
--CS Departmant will pay for flight
-- We can pay local expenses
--Pints with Profs
--Ro-Sham-Bo
*Changes in the MathSoc Clubs Policy
Action Item: Jim and Stefanus
--Bring thus up with MathSoc
--Might be good to talk to Bioinformatics about this, as
they have science faculty members to take care of as well.
--Major issue: People who revoke their Mathsoc fees can still be
voting members
--We want it so that only people who have paid dues to Mathsoc
can vote.
--Execs should not take back fees, as that is bad form.
--All execs unanimously agreed with this proposal
*Confirming that we have free printing and photocopying
Action Item: Mark
--Does Faculty of Math billing code apply to CSC
(as Faculty of Math department?)
-- Procedures manual has a billing code, but it should
be confirmed.
-- Ask MUO, then Shirley after that.
Action Item: Simon
--Apparently there is a special Watcard that provides
free printing from MFCF
--We do not know what account it is mapped to,
or the password.
* Getting csc_disk, csc, csc_ceo accounts on undergrad to work again.
Action Item: Phil
-- Get csc-disk back up for student use.
-- What group permissions do we need?
-- CSC-Disk should be used as a repository for custom
window managers, Mozilla, etc... (selling factor for
CSC accounts)
-- We should also have an announcement (MOTD, perhaps?)
that we are providing and supporting this software.
--Consider: Having university-wide accessible
binaries might be a pain, as different machines
might require different compilations.
-- CSC-Disk is full of user data. Should that be blown away?
*Getting locker #7 from MathSoc (Don't we already have lockers 788 and
789?)
--Why were the locks snipped? (Bring up at council meeting)
--We would prefer one combo-lock and one key-lock.
* Review of the CSC office organization
Action Item: Damien
--Give Mike sudo access for shutdown
--Will be rewiring stuff on Saturday
--involves re-plugging machines
Action Item: Simon
--Get rubber wheels for chairs
Action Item: Mike
-- Ask PlantOps about:
--Waxing floors
--Installing Electronic Lock (asap)
--According to Faculty of Math,
we shouldn't need keys.
--Currently, we still need keys
--It is kosher to install Electronic lock
--This provides access right control as
compared to key-control.
--Might be long term project.
--Will green men do it?
--Steam-clean chairs (at least once a term)
--Cork-board
--Making ugly wall prettier
--PlantOps knows about office
organization, making environment better.
--Whiteboards need to be put up
--Proposal: Cork-board on pillar (no objections)
--Metal frames on Whiteboard will be in least annoying place
*Do we provide public stapler access?
--People are often unappreciative and rude
--Sign - "Stapler if you say please" -- Unanimously voted
stapler policy
*MathSoc Sign
--Action Item: Jim
--Find out where to get CSC sign before Monday so we
can claim it in old budget.
* Librarian's Report
--Action Item: Jim
--Find perl volunteer to finish CEO
--Force Stefanus to export CVS tree and put onto Peri
--Books were scanned into system with help of Mark
--All books with valid barcodes entered into system on
May 20th
--Books without valid barcodes are not in system
--Someone needs to do it
--Plan is to implement Dewey decimal system
--May be inefficient as all books are about CS
--We will figure out a system later
--No plans to purchase new books
--Librarian's Request: Office Staff should not lend out books
that do not have barcodes (No objects to request)
--We are still using /media/iso/request to track books
--Should be charge late fees for books?
--We should have money in budget for repairing,maintaining books
--Before spending money on maintaining books, check if DC will
do it
--will it be cheaper/easier/better?
*Setting up extra quota for fun and profit.
-- We don't implement quota properly right now
-- Low demand for extra quota
-- Counterpoint: Old CSC made tons of money
-- Counter-counter-point: It's not that necessary for extra
quota nowadays.
-- Executives voted against proposal.
*Jim will spam with an update about the term
--Consider making it opt-in
--One email from a service you are using should be considered
reasonable mass mailing
*Should Jim bring anything up at the MathSoc meeting?**
-- Has a list
* Student branches for ACM and IEEE
Action Item: Gaelan
--Contact IEEE Computing Society in UW and ask if they want
to merge or transfer society to us
--Simon volunteers to be put down as exec for ACM
--ACM rules state requirement that exec is a ACM member
--Do we renew Calum's ACM membership?
--Yes (3 Yes; 1 No; 1 Abstention)
--ACM membership money in budget
--ACM Student chapter form has not come in
* What to do with the donated Procedures Manual?
--Term Task for webpage:
--Put procedures manual on web-page.
--Merge with current manual
--We don't have a hard copy
--Would be a good thing to read.
--Many parts need updating
</pre>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-05-14" time="4:30 PM" room="MC3001 Comfy Lounge"
title="Spring 2003 Elections">
<short>Come on out and vote for your exec!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Elections will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at 4:30 PM in the
Comfy Lounge, MC3001.</p>
<p>I invite you to nominate yourself or others for executive positions,
starting immediately. Simply e-mail me at sjdutoit@uwaterloo.ca or
cro@csclub.uwaterloo.ca with the name of the person who is to be
nominated and the position they're nominated for.</p>
<p>Nominees must be full-time undergraduate students in Math. Sorry!</p>
<p>Positions open for elections are:</p>
<ul>
<li>
President: Organises the club, appoints committees, keeps everyone busy.
If you have lots of ideas about the club in general and like bossing
people around, go for it!
</li>
<li>
Vice President: Organises events, acts as the president if he's not
available. If you have lots of ideas for events, and spare time, go
for it!
</li>
<li>
Treasurer: Keeps track of the club's finances. Gets to sign cheques
and stuff. If you enjoy dealing with money and have ideas on how to
spend it, go for it!
</li>
<li>
Secretary: Takes care of minutes and outside correspondence. If you
enjoy writing things down and want to use our nifty new letterhead
style, go for it!
</li>
</ul>
<p>Nominations will be accepted until Tuesday, May 13 at 4:30 PM.</p>
<p>Additionally, a Sysadmin will be appointed after the elections. If you
like working with unix systems and have experience setting up and
maintaining them, go for it!</p>
<p>I hope that lots of people will show up; hopefully we'll have a great
term with plenty of events. We always need other volunteers, so if you
want to get involved just talk to the new exec after the
meeting. Librarians, webmasters, poster runners, etc. are always
sought after!</p>
<p>There will also be free pop, and if I remember, timbits :).</p>
<p>Memberships can be purchased at the elections. Only undergrad math
members can vote, but anyone can become a member.</p>
<p>Don't forget! Mark it on your calendar/wrist watch/PDA/brain implant!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2003 -->
<eventitem date="2003-02-04" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 101 Tutorial">
<short>Learn Unix and be the envy of your friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>This is the first in a series of seminars that cover the use of the
UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of applications, both
in academia and industy. We will provide you with hands-on experience
with the Math Faculty's UNIX environment in this seminar.</p>
<p>Topics that will be discussed include:</p>
<ul>
<li> Navigating the UNIX environment</li>
<li> Using common UNIX commands</li>
<li>Using the PICO text editor</li>
<li>Reading electronic mail and news with PINE</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be lent
to you for the duration of this class.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-11" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 102 Tutorial">
<short>Learn more Unix and be the envy of your friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Abstract to come soon.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-18" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 103 Tutorial">
<short>Learn more Unix and be the envy of your friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Abstract to come soon. </p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-01-13" time="6:00 PM" room="MC3001"
title="W03 Elections">
<short>Come out and vote for the new exec!</short>
<abstract>
<p>This term's elections will take place on Monday, January 13 at 6:00 PM in the
MC "comfy lounge" (MC3001). Nominations are open from now on (Thursday,
January 2) until 4:30 PM of the day before elections (Sunday, January 12).
In order to nominate someone you can either e-mail me directly, by depositing
a form with the required information in the CSC mailbox in the Mathsoc office
or by writing the nomination and clearly marking it as such on the large
whiteboard in the CSC office. E-mail is probably the best choice.
Please include the name of the person to be nominated as well as the position
you wish to nominate them for.</p>
<p>Candidates must be full members of the club. This means they must have paid
their membership for the given term and (due to recent changes in the
constitution) must be full-time undergraduate math students.
The same requirements hold for those voting. Please bring your Watcard to
the elections so that I can verify this. I will have a list of members with
me also.</p>
<p>The positions open are:</p>
<p><b>President</b> -- appoints all commitees of the club, calls and presides at all
meetings of the club and audits the club's financial records. Really, this
is the person in charge.</p>
<p><b>Vice President</b> -- assumes President's duties in case he/she is absent,
plans and coordinates events with the programmes committee and assumes any
other duties delegated by the President.
This is a really fun job if you enjoy coordinating events!</p>
<p><b>Secretary</b> -- keeps minutes of the meetings and cares for any correspondence.
A fairly light job, good choice if you just want to see what being an exec
is all about.</p>
<p><b>Treasurer</b> -- maintains all the finances of the club.
If you like money and keeping records, this is the job for you!</p>
<p>Additionally a Systems Administrator will be picked by the new executive.</p>
<p>Last term was a great term for the CSC -- many events, some office renovations
and a much improved image were all part of it. I hope to see the next term's
exec continue this. If you're interested in seeing this happen, do consider
going for a position, or helping out as office staff or on one of the
committees.</p>
<p>Anyways, hopefully I'll see many of you at the elections.
Remember: Monday, January 13, 6:00 PM, MC3001/Comfy Lounge.</p>
<p>If you have any further questions don't hesitate to contact the CRO,
Stefanus Du Toit <a href="mailto:sjdutoit@uwaterloo.ca">by e-mail</a>.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-01-23" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="Regular Expressions">
<short>Find your perfect match</short>
<abstract>
<p>Stephen Kleene developed regular expressions to describe what he
called <q>the algebra of regular sets.</q> Since he was a pioneering
theorist in computer science, Kleene's regular expressions soon made
it into searching algorithms and from there to everyday tools.</p>
<p>Regular expressions can be powerful tools to manipulate text.
You will be introduced to them in this talk. As well, we will go
further than the rigid mathematical definition of regular
expressions, and delve into POSIX regular expressions which are
typically available in most Unix tools.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-01-30" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="sed &amp; awk">
<short>Unix text editing</short>
<abstract>
<p><i>sed</i> is the Unix stream editor. A powerful way to
automatically edit a large batch of text. <i>awk</i> is a
programming language that allows you to manipulate structured data
into formatted reports.</p>
<p>Both of these tools come from early Unix, and both are still
useful today. Although modern programming languages such as Perl,
Python, and Ruby have largely replaced the humble <i>sed</i> and
<i>awk</i>, they still have their place in every Unix user's
toolkit.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-06" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="LaTeX: A Document Processor">
<short>Typesetting beautiful text</short>
<abstract>
<p>Unix was one of the first electronic typesetting platforms. The
innovative AT&amp;T <i>troff</i> system allowed researches at Bell
Labs to generate high quality camera-ready proofs for their papers.
Later, Donald Knuth invented a typesetting system called
T<small>E</small>X, which was far superior to other typesetting
systems in the 1980s. However, it was still a typesetting language,
where one had to specify exactly how text was to be set.</p>
<p>L<sup><small>A</small></sup>T<small>E</small>X is a macro package
for the T<small>E</small>X system that allows an author to describe
his document's function, thereby typesetting the text in an
attractive and correct way. In addition, one can define semantic
tags to a document, in order to describe the meaning of the
document; rather than the layout.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-13" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="LaTeX: Reports">
<short>Writing reports that look good.</short>
<abstract>
<p>Work term reports, papers, and other technical documents can be
typeset in L<sup><small>A</small></sup>T<small>E</small>X to great
effect. In this session, I will provide examples on how to typeset
tables, figures, and references. You will also learn how to make
tables of contents, bibliographics, and how to create footnotes.</p>
<p> I will also examine various packages of
L<sup><small>A</small></sup>T<small>E</small>X that can help you
meet requirements set by users of inferior typesetting systems.
These include double-spacing, hyphenation and specific margin
sizes.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-20" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="LaTeX: Beautiful Mathematics">
<short>LaTeX =&gt; fun</short>
<abstract>
<p>It is widely acknowledged that the best system by which to
typeset beautiful mathematics is through the T<small>E</small>
typesetting system, written by Donald Knuth in the early 1980s.</p>
<p>In this talk, I will demonstrate
L<sup><small>A</small></sup>T<small>E</small>X and how to typeset
elegant mathematical expressions.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-27" time="6:00 PM" room="MC1085"
title="The BSD License Family">
<short>Free for all</short>
<abstract>
<p>Before the GNU project ever existed, before the phrase
"Free Software" was ever coined, students and researchers
at the University of California, Berkeley were already
practising it. They had acquired the source cdoe to a
little-known operating system developed at AT&amp;T
Bell Laboratories, and were creating improvments at a
ferocious rate.</p>
<p>These improvements were sent back to Bell Labs, and
shared to other Universities. Each of them were licensed
under what is now known as the "Original BSD license". Find
out what this license means, its implications, and what are
its decendents by attending this short talk.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-02-27" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="The GNU General Public License">
<short>The teeth of Free Software</short>
<abstract>
<div style="font-style: italic"><blockquote>
The licenses for most software are designed to take away your
freedom to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General
Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and
change free software---to make sure the software is free for all
its users.
<br />
<div style="text-align:right">--- Excerpt from the GNU GPL</div>
</blockquote></div>
<p> The GNU General Public License is one of the most influencial
software licenses in this day. Written by Richard Stallman for the
GNU Project, it is used by software developers around the world to
protect their work.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, software developers do not read licenses
thoroughly, nor well. In this talk, we will read the entire GNU GPL
and explain the implications of its passages. Along the way, we
will debunk some myths and clarify common misunderstandings.</p>
<p>After this session, you ought to understand what the GNU GPL
means, how to use it, and when you cannot use it. This session
should also give you some insight into the social implications of
this work.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-03-13" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="XML">
<short>Give your documents more markup</short>
<abstract>
<p>XML is the <q>eXtensible Markup Language,</q> a standard
maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium. A descendant of IBM's
SGML. It is a metalanguage which can be used to define markup
languages for semantically describing a document.</p>
<p>This talk will describe how to generate correct XML documents,
and auxillary technologies that work with XML.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-03-20" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="XSLT">
<short>Transforming your documents</short>
<abstract>
<p>XSLT is the <q>eXtended Stylesheet Language Transformations,</q>
a language for transforming XML documents into other XML
documents.</p>
<p>XSLT is used to manipulate XML documents into other forms: a sort
of glue between data formats. It can turn an XML document into an
XHTML document, or even an HTML document. With a little bit of
hackery, it can even be convinced to spit out non-XML conforming
documents.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-03-24" time="8:00 PM"
room="Humanities Theatre, Hagey Hall"
title="Judy, or What Is It Like To Be A Robot?">
<short>Held in co-operation with the UW Cognitive Science Club</short>
<abstract>
<p>A lot of claims have been made lately about the intelligence of
computers. Some researchers say that computers will eventually attain
super-human intelligence. Others call thse claims... um, poppycock.
Oddly enough, in the search for the truth of the matter, both camps
have overlooked an obvious strategy: interviewing a computer and asking
her opinion.</p>
<p>"Judy is as much fun as a barrel of wind-up cymbal-monkeys, and
lots more entertaining." --- Bill Rodriguez, <i>Providence Phoenix</i></p>
<p>"Tom Sgouros's witty play, co-starring the charming robot Judy, is an
imagination stretcher that delights while it exercises your mind. If you
think you can't imagine a conscious robot, you're wrong---you can,
especially once you've met Judy." --- Daniel C. Dennett,
author of <i>Consciousness Explained</i>, <i>Brainchildren</i>,
&amp;c.</p>
<p>"...an engrossing evening... Real questions about
consciousness, freedom to act, the relationship between the creator
and the created are woven into a bravura performance." --- Will
Stackman, <i>Aislesay.com</i></p>
<p>Sponsored by the Mathematics Society, the Federation of Students, the
Arts Student Union, the Graduate Student Association, and the Department of
Philosophy. Tickets available at the Humanities box office (888-4908) and
the offices of the Psychology Society and the Computer Science Club for
$5.50. For
more information: <a
href="http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/cogsci/">http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/cogsci</a>.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-03-25" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2065"
title="Stream Processing">
<short>A talk by Assistant Professor Michael McCool</short>
<abstract>
<p>Stream processing is an enhanced version of SIMD processing that
permits efficient execution of conditionals and iteration. Stream
processors have many similarities to GPUs, and a hardware prototype,
the Imagine processor, has been used to implement both OpenGL and
Renderman.</p>
<p>It is possible that GPUs will acquire certain properties
of stream processors in the future, which should make them easier
to use and more efficient for general-purpose computation that includes
data-dependent iteration and conditionals.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-03-26" time="6:00 PM" room="MC2065"
title="Abusing the C++ Compiler">
<short>Abusing template metaprogramming in C++</short>
<abstract>
<p>Templates are a useful feature in C++ when it comes to writing
type-independent data structures and algorithms. But that's not all
they can be used for. Essentially, it is possible to write certain
programs in C++ that execute completely at compile-time rather
than run-time. Combined with some optimisations this is an interesting
twist on regular C++ programming.</p>
<p>This talk will give a short overview of the features of templates
and then go on to describe how to "abuse" templates to perform complex
computations at compile time. The speaker will present three programs of
increasing complexity which execute at compile time. First a factorial
listing program, then a prime listing program will be presented. Finally
the talk will conclude with the presentation of a <i>Mandelbrot
generator running at compile time.</i></p>
<p>Some basic knowledge of C++ will be assumed.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2003-03-27" time="6:30 PM" room="MC1085"
title="SSH and Networks">
<short>Once more into the breach</short>
<abstract>
<p>The Secure Shell (SSH) has now replaced traditional remote login
tools such as <i>rsh</i>, <i>rlogin</i>, <i>rexec</i> and
<i>telnet</i>. It is used to provide secure, authenticated,
encrypted communications between remote systems. However, the SSH
protocol provides for much more than this.</p>
<p>In this talk, we will discuss using SSH to its full extent. Topics
to be covered include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Remote logins</li>
<li>Remote execution</li>
<li>Password-free authentication</li>
<li>X11 forwarding</li>
<li>TCP forwarding</li>
<li>SOCKS tunnelling</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 1994 -->
<eventitem
date="1994-09-13" time="9:00 PM"
room="Princess Cinema"
title="Movie Outing: Brainstorm">
<short>
No description available.
</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The first of this term's CSC social events, we will be going to see
the movie ``Brainstorm'' at the Princess Cinema. This outing is
intended primarily for the new first-year students.
</p>
<p>
The Princess Cinema is Waterloo's repertoire theatre. This month
and next, they are featuring a ``Cyber Film Festival''. Upcoming
films include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Brazil</li>
<li>Bladerunner (director's cut)</li>
<li>2001: A Space Odyssey</li>
<li>Naked Lunch</li>
</ul>
<p>
Admission is $4.25 for a Princess member, $7.50 for a non-member.
Membership to the Princess is $7.00 per year.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-09-16" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 4040"
title="CSC Elections">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>No abstract available</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-09-19" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 3022"
title="UNIX I Tutorial">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>No abstract available</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-09-21" time="6:30 PM"
room="DC 1302"
title="SIGGRAPH Video Night">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>No abstract available</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-09-22" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 3022"
title="UNIX I Tutorial">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>No abstract available</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-09-26" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 3022"
title="UNIX II Tutorial">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>No abstract available</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-10-13" time="5:00 PM"
room="DC 1302"
title="Prograph: Picture the Future">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>
<p>
What is the next step in the evolution of computer languages?
Intelligent agents? Distributed objects? or visual languages?
</p>
<p>
Visual languages overcome many of the drawbacks and limitations
of the textual languages that software development is based on
today. Do you think about programming in a linear fashion? Or do
you draw a mental picture of your algorithm and then linearize it
for the benefit of your compiler? Wouldn't it be nice if you could
code the same way you think?
</p>
<p>
Visual C++ and Visual BASIC aren't visual languages, but Prograph
is. Prograph is a commercially available, visual, object-oriented,
data-flow language. It is well suited to graphical user interface
development, but is as powerful for general-purpose programming as
any textual language.
</p>
<p>
The talk will comprise a discussion of the problems of textual
languages that visual languages solve, a live demonstration of
Prograph, and some of my observations of the applications of
Prograph to software development.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-10-15" time="10:00 AM"
room="MC 3022"
title="ACM-Style Programming Contest">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>
<h3>Big Money and Prizes!</h3>
<p>
So you think you're a pretty good programmer? Pit your skills
against others on campus in this triannual event! Contestants will
have three hours to solve five programming problems in either C or
Pascal.
</p>
<p>
Last fall's winners went on to the International Finals and came
first overall! You could be there, too!
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-10-20" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 3009"
title="Exploring the Internet">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>
<h3>Need something to do between assignments/beers?</h3>
<p>
Did you know that your undergrad account at Waterloo gives you
access tothe world's largest computer network? With thousands
of discussion groups, gigabytes of files to download, multimedia
information browsers, even on-line entertainment?
</p>
<p>
The resources available on the Internet are vast and wondrous, but
the tools for navigating it are sometimes confusing and arcane. In
this hands-on tutorial you will get the chance to get your feet wet
with the world's most mind-bogglingly big computer network, the
protocols and programs used, and how to use them responsibly and
effectively.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem
date="1994-11-02" time="4:30 PM"
room="MC 2038"
title="Game Theory">
<short>No description available</short>
<abstract>
<h3>From the Minimax Theorem, through Alpha-Beta, and beyond...</h3>
<p>
This will be a descussion of the pitfalls of using mathematics and
algorithms to play classical board games. Thorough descriptions
shall be presented of the simple techniques used as the building
blocks that make all modern computer game players. I will use
tic-tac-toe as a control for my arguements. Other games such as
Chess, Othello and Go shall be the be a greater measure of progress;
and more importantly the targets of our dreams.
</p>
<p>
To enhance the discussion of the future, Barney Pell's Metagamer
shall be introduced. His work in define classes of games is
important in identifying the features necessary for analysis.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 1999 -->
<eventitem date="1999-10-18" time="2:30 PM" room="DC1304"
title="Living Laboratories: The Future Computing Environments at
Georgia Tech">
<short>By Blair MacIntyre and Elizabeth Mynatt</short>
<abstract>
<p>by Blair MacIntyre and Elizabeth Mynatt</p>
<p>The Future Computing Environments (FCE) Group at Georgia Tech
is a collection of faculty and students that share a desire to
understand the partnership between humans and technology that
arises as computation and sensing become ubiquitous. With
expertise covering the breadth of Computer Science, but
focusing on HCI, Computational Perception, and Machine
Learning, the individual research agendas of the FCE faculty
are grounded in a number of shared "living laboratories" where
their research is applied to everyday life in the classroom
(Classroom 2000), the home (the Aware Home), the office
(Augmented Offices), and on one's person. Professors
MacIntyre and Mynatt will discuss a variety of these projects,
with an emphasis on the HCI and Computer Science aspects of
the FCE work.
</p>
<p>
In addition to their affiliation with the FCE group,
Professors Mynatt and MacIntyre are both members of the
Graphics, Visualization and Usability Center (GVU) at Georgia
Tech. This interdisciplinary center brings together research
in computer science, psychology, industrial engineering,
architecture and media design by examining the role of
computation in our everyday lives. During the talk, they will
touch on some of the research and educational opportunities
available at both GVU and the College of Computing.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="1999-10-19" time="4:30 PM" room="DC1304"
title="GDB, Purify Tutorial">
<short>No description available.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Debugging can be the most difficult and time consuming part of
any program's life-cycle. Far from an exact science, it's more
of an art ... and close to some kind of dark magic. Cryptic
error messages, lousy error checking, and icky things like
implicit casts can make it nearly impossible toknow what's
going on inside your program.
</p>
<p>
Several tools are available to help automate your
debuggin. GDB and Purify are among the most powerful
debugging tools available in a UNIX environment. GDB is an
interactive debugger, allowing you to `step' through
aprogram, examine function calls, variable contents, stack
traces and let you look at the state of a program after it
crashes. Purify is a commercial program designed to help find
and remove memory leaks from programs written inlanguages
without automatic garbage collection.
</p>
<p>
This talk will cover how to compile your C and C++ programs
for use with GDB and Purify, as well as how to use the
available X interfaces. If a purify license is available on
undergrad at the time of the talk, we will cover how to use it
during runtime.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="1999-12-01" time="4:30 PM" room="MC2066"
title="Homebrew Processors and Integrated Systems in FPGAs">
<short>By Jan Gray</short>
<abstract>
<p>by Jan Gray</p>
<p> With the advent of large inexpensive field-programmable gate
arrays and tools it is now practical for anyone to design and
build custom processors and systems-on-a-chip. Jan will discuss
designing with FPGAs, and present the design and implementation
of xr16, yet another FPGA-based RISC computer system with
integrated peripherals.</p>
<p> Jan is a past CSC pres., B.Math. CS/EEE '87, and wrote
compilers, tools, and middleware at Microsoft from 1987-1998. He
built the first 32-bit FPGA CPU and system-on-a-chip in
1995. </p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="1999-12-01" time="7:00 PM" room="Golf's Steakhouse"
title="Ctrl-D">
<short>End-of-term dinner</short>
<abstract>
No abstract available.
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="1999-12-02" time="1:30 PM" room="DC1302"
title="Calculational Mathematics">
<short>By Edgar Dijkstra</short>
<abstract>
<p> By Edgar Dijkstra</p>
<p> This talk will use partial orders, lattice theory, and, if
time permits, the Galois connection as carriers to illustrate
the use of calculi in mathematics. We hope to show the brevity
of many calculations (in order tofight the superstition that
formal proofs are necessarily unpractically long), and the
strong heuristic guidance that is available for their
design. </p>
<p> Dijkstra is known for early graph-theoretical algorithms,
the first implementation of ALGOL 60, the first operating system
composed of explicitly synchronized processes, the invention of
guarded commands and of predicate transformers as a means for
defining semantics, and programming methodology in the broadest
sense of the word. </p>
<p> His current research interests focus on the formal
derivation of proofs and programs, and the streamlining of the
mathematical argument in general.</p>
<p> Dijkstra held the Schlumberger Centennial Chair in Computer
Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin until retiring in
October. </p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="1999-12-03" time="10:00 AM" room="Siegfried Hall,
St Jerome's" title="Proofs and Programs">
<short>By Edsger Dijkstra</short>
<abstract>
<p> This talk will show the use of programs for the proving of
theorems. Its purpose is to show how our experience gained in
the derivations of programs might be transferred to the
derivation of proofs in general. The examples will go beyond the
(traditional) existence theorems. </p>
<p> Dijkstra is known for early graph-theoretical algorithms,
the first implementation of ALGOL 60, the first operating system
composed of explicitly synchronized processes, the invention of
guarded commands and of predicate transformers as a means for
defining semantics, and programming methodology in the broadest
sense of the word. </p>
<p> His current research interests focus on the formal
derivation of proofs and programs, and the streamlining of the
mathematical argument in general.</p>
<p> Dijkstra held the Schlumberger Centennial Chair in Computer
Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin until retiring in
October. </p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="1999-12-03" time="3:00 PM" room="DC1351"
title="Open Q&amp;A session">
<short>By Edsger Dijkstra</short>
<abstract>No description available.</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2000 -->
<eventitem date="2000-03-24" time="4:30 PM" room="DC1304"
title="Enterprise Java APIs and Implementing a Web Portal">
<short>No description available.</short>
<abstract>
<h3>by Floyd Marinescu
</h3>
<p>
The first talk will be an introduction to the Enterprise Java
API's: Servlets, JSP, EJB, and how to use them to build
eCommerce sites.
</p>
<p>
The second talk will be about how these technologies were used
to implement a real world portal. The talk will include an
overview of the design patterns used and will feature
architectural information about the yet to be release portal
(which I am one of the developers) called theserverside.com.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2000-03-30" time="4:30 PM" room="DC1304"
title="Enterprise Java APIs and Implementing a Web Portal (1)">
<short>No description available.</short>
<abstract>
<p>Real World J2EE - Design Patterns and architecture behind the
yet to be released J2EE portal: theserverside.com</p>
<p>This talk will feature an exclusive look at the architecture
behind the new J2EE portal: theserverside.com. Join Floyd
Marinescu in a walk-through ofthe back-end of the portal,
while learning about J2EE and its real world patterns,
applications, problems and benefits.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Spring 2000 -->
<eventitem date="2000-07-20" time="7:00 PM" room="Ali Babas Steak
House, 130 King Street S, Waterloo" title="Ctrl-D">
<short>End-of-term dinner</short>
<abstract>No abstract available.</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 2000 -->
<eventitem date="2000-09-14" time="6:00 PM" room="DC1302"
title="CSC Elections">
<short>Fall 2000 Elections for the CSC.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Would you like to get involved in the CSC? Would you like to have a
say in what the CSC does this term? Come out to the CSC Elections!
In addition to electing the executive for the Fall term, we will be
appointing office staff and other positions. Look for details in
uw.csc.
</p>
<p>Nominations for all positions are being taken in the CSC office, MC
3036.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2000-09-14" time="7:00 PM" room="DC1302"
title="SIGGraph Video Night">
<short> SIGGraph Video Night Featuring some truly awesome computer
animations from Siggraph '99. </short>
<abstract>
<p> Interested in Computer Graphics?
</p>
<p> Enjoy watching state-of-the-art Animation?
</p>
<p> Looking for a cheap place to take a date?
</p>
<p> SIGGraph Video Night -
Featuring some truly awesome computer animations from Siggraph '99.
</p>
<p>Come out for the Computer Science Club general elections at 6:00
pm, right before SIGGraph!</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2000-09-25" time="2:30 PM" room="DC1302"
title="Realising the Next Generation Internet">
<short>By Frank Clegg of Microsoft Canada</short>
<abstract>
<h3>Vitals</h3>
<dl>
<dt>By</dt>
<dd>Frank Clegg</dd>
<dd>President, Microsoft Canada</dd>
<dt>Date</dt>
<dd>Monday, September 25, 2000</dd>
<dt>Time</dt>
<dd>14:30 - 16:00</dd>
<dt>Place</dt>
<dd>DC 1302</dd>
<dd>(Davis Centre, Room 1302, University of Waterloo)</dd>
<dt>Cost</dt>
<dd>$0.00</dd>
<dt>Pre-registration</dt>
<dd>Recommended</dd>
<dd><a HREF="http://infranet.uwaterloo.ca:81/infranet/semform.htm">http://infranet.uwaterloo.ca:81/infranet/semform.htm</a></dd>
<dd>(519) 888-4004</dd>
</dl>
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<p>The Internet and the Web have revolutionized our communications, our access
to information and our business methods. However, there is still much room
for improvement. Frank Clegg will discuss Microsoft's vision for what is
beyond browsing and the dotcom. Microsoft .NET (pronounced "dot-net") is a
new platform, user experience and set of advanced software services planned
to make all devices work together and connect seamlessly. With this next
generation of software, Microsoft's goal is to make Internet-based
computing and communications easier to use, more personalized, and more
productive for businesses and consumers. In his new position of president
of Microsoft Canada Co., Frank Clegg will be responsible for leading the
organization toward the delivery of Microsoft .NET. He will speak about
this new platform and the next generation Internet, how software developers
and businesses will be able to take advantage of it, and what the .NET
experience will look like for consumers and business users.</p>
<h3>The Speaker</h3>
<p>Frank Clegg was appointed president of Microsoft Canada Co. this month.
Prior to his new position, Mr. Clegg was vice-president, Central Region,
Microsoft Corp. from 1996 to 2000. In this capacity, he was responsible for
sales, support and marketing activities in 15 U.S. states. Mr. Clegg joined
Microsoft Corp. in 1991 and headed the Canadian subsidiary until 1996.
During that time, Mr. Clegg was instrumental in introducing several key
initiatives to improve company efficiency, growth and market share. Mr.
Clegg graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1977 with a B. Math.</p>
<h3>For More Information</h3>
<address>
Shirley Fenton<br />
The infraNET Project<br />
University of Waterloo<br />
519-888-4567 ext. 5611<br />
<a HREF="http://infranet.uwaterloo.ca/">http://infranet.uwaterloo.ca/</a>
</address>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2001 -->
<eventitem date="2001-01-15" time="4:30 PM" room="MC3036"
title="Executive elections">
<short>Winter 2001 CSC Elections.</short>
<abstract>
<p>Would you like to get involved in the CSC? Would you like to
have a say in what the CSC does this term? Come out to the CSC
Elections! In addition to electing the executive for the
Winter term, we will be appointing office staff and other
positions. Look for details in uw.csc.
</p>
<p>
Nominations for all positions are being taken in the CSC
office, MC 3036.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2001-01-22" time="3:30 PM" room="MC3036"
title="Meeting #2">
<short>Second CSC meeting for Winter 2001.</short>
<abstract>
<h3>Proposed agenda</h3>
<dl>
<dt>Book purchases</dt>
<dd>
<p>They haven't been done in 2 terms.
We have an old list of books to buy.
Any suggestions from uw.csc are welcome.</p>
</dd>
<dt>CD Burner</dt>
<dd>
<p>For doing linux burns. It was allocated money on the budget
request - about $300. We should be able to get a decent 12x
burner with that (8x rewrite).</p>
<p>The obvious things to sell are Linux Distros and BSD variants.
Are there any other software that we can legally burn and sell
to students?</p>
</dd>
<dt>Unix talks</dt>
<dd>
<p>Just a talk of the topics to be covered, when, where, whatnot.
Mike was right on this one, this should have been done earlier
in the term. Oh well, maybe we can fix this for next fall term.</p>
</dd>
<dt>Game Contest</dt>
<dd>
<p>We already put a bit of work into planning the Othello contest
before I read Mike's post. I still think it's viable. I've got
at least 2 people interested in writing entries for it. This
will be talked about more on monday. Hopefully, Rory and I will
be able to present a basic outline of how the contest is going
to be run at that time.</p>
</dd>
<dt>Peri's closet cleaning</dt>
<dd>
<p>Current sysadmin (jmbeverl) and I (kvijayan) and
President (geduggan) had a nice conversation about this 2
days ago, having to do with completely erasing all of
peri, installing a clean stable potato debian on it, and
priming it for being a gradual replacement to calum. We'll
probably discuss how much we want to get done on this
front on Monday.</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<p>Any <a HREF="nntp://news.math.uwaterloo.ca/uw.csc/8305">comments</a> from <a HREF="news:uw.csc">the newsgroup</a> are welcome.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2001-01-27" time="10:30 AM" room="MC3006"
title="ACM-Style programming contest">
<short>Practice for the ACM international programming
contest</short>
<abstract>
<p>Our ACM-Style practice contests involve answering five questions in three
hours. Solutions are written in Pascal, C or C++. Seven years in a row,
Waterloo's teams have been in the top ten at the world finals.
For more information, see
<a HREF="http://plg.uwaterloo.ca/~acm00/">the contest web page</a>.</p>
<h3>Easy Question:</h3>
<p>A palindrome is a sequence of letters that reads the same backwards and
forwards, such as ``Madam, I'm Adam'' (note that case doesn't matter and
only letters are important). Your task is to find the longest palindrome in
a line of text (if there is a tie, print the leftmost one).</p>
<pre>
Input: Output:
asfgjh12dsfgg kj0ab12321BA wdDwkj abBA
abcbabCdcbaqwerewq abCdcba
</pre>
<h3>Hard Question:</h3>
<p>An anagram is a word formed by reordering the letters of another word.
Find all sets of anagrams that exist within a large dictionary. The
input will be a sorted list of words (up to 4000 words), one per line.
Output each set of anagrams on a separate line. Each set should be
in alphabetical order, and all lines of sets should be in alphabetical
order. A word with no anagrams is a set of anagrams itself, and should
be displayed with no modifications.</p>
<pre>
Input: Output:
post post pots stop
pots start
start
stop
</pre>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2001-01-29" time="02:39 PM" room="MC3036"
title="Meeting #3">
<short>No description available.</short>
<abstract>No abstract available.</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2001-02-05" time="03:30 PM" room="MC3036"
title="Meeting #4">
<short>No description available.</short>
<abstract>No abstract available.</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2001-02-12" time="03:30 PM" room="MC3036"
title="Meeting #5">
<short>No description available.</short>
<abstract>No abstract available.</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Spring 2001 -->
<eventitem date="2001-06-02" time="10:30 AM" room="MC3006"
title="ACM-Style programming contest">
<short>Practice for the ACM international programming
contest</short>
<abstract>
<p>Our ACM-Style practice contests involve answering five questions in three
hours. Solutions are written in Pascal, C or C++. Seven years in a row,
Waterloo's teams have been in the top ten at the world finals.
For more information, see
<a HREF="http://plg.uwaterloo.ca/~acm00/">the contest web page</a>.</p>
<h3>Easy Question:</h3>
<p>A palindrome is a sequence of letters that reads the same backwards and
forwards, such as ``Madam, I'm Adam'' (note that case doesn't matter and
only letters are important). Your task is to find the longest palindrome in
a line of text (if there is a tie, print the leftmost one).</p>
<pre>
Input: Output:
asfgjh12dsfgg kj0ab12321BA wdDwkj abBA
abcbabCdcbaqwerewq abCdcba
</pre>
<h3>Hard Question:</h3>
<p>An anagram is a word formed by reordering the letters of another word.
Find all sets of anagrams that exist within a large dictionary. The
input will be a sorted list of words (up to 4000 words), one per line.
Output each set of anagrams on a separate line. Each set should be
in alphabetical order, and all lines of sets should be in alphabetical
order. A word with no anagrams is a set of anagrams itself, and should
be displayed with no modifications.</p>
<pre>
Input: Output:
post post pots stop
pots start
start
stop
</pre>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Winter 2002 -->
<eventitem date="2002-01-26" time="2:00 PM"
room="Comfy Lounge MC3001"
title="An Introduction to GNU Hurd">
<short>Bored of GNU/Linux? Try this experimental operating
system!</short>
<abstract>
<p>GNU Hurd is an operating system kernel based on the microkernel
architecture design. It was the original GNU kernel, predating Linux,
and is still being actively developed by many volunteers.</p>
<p>The Toronto-area Hurd Users Group, in co-operation with the Computer
Science Club, is hosting an afternoon to show the Hurd to anyone
interested. Jeff Bailey, a Hurd developer, will give a presentation on
the Hurd, followed by a GnuPG/PGP keysigning party. To finish it off,
James Morrison, also a Hurd developer, will be hosting a Debian
GNU/Hurd installation session.</p>
<p>All interested are invited to attend. Bring your GnuPG/PGP fingerprint
and mail your key to sjdutoit@uwaterloo.ca with the subject
``keysigning'' (see separate announcement).</p>
<p>Questions? Suggestions? Contact <a
href="ja2morri@uwaterloo.ca">James Morrison</a>.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-01-26" time="2:30 PM"
room="Comfy Lounge MC3001"
title="GnuPG/PGP Keysigning Party">
<short>Get more signatures on your key!</short>
<abstract>
<p>
GnuPG and PGP provide public-key based encryption for e-mail and
other electronic communication. In addition to preventing others
from reading your private e-mail, this allows you to verify that an
e-mail or file was indeed written by its perceived author.
</p>
<p>
In order to make sure a GnuPG/PGP key belongs to the respective
person, the key must be signed by someone who has checked the
user's key fingerprint and verified the user's identification.
</p>
<p>
A keysigning party is an ideal occasion to have your key signed by
many people, thus strengthening the authority of your key. Everyone
showing up exchanges key signatures after verifying ID and
fingerprints. The Computer Science Club will be hosting such a
keysigning party together with the Hurd presentation by THUG (see
separate announcement). See
<a href="http://www.student.math.uwaterloo.ca/~sjdutoit/"> the
keysigning party homepage</a> for more information.
</p>
<p>
Before attending it is important that you mail your key to
sjdutoit@uwaterloo.ca with the subject ``keysigning.'' Also make
sure to bring photo ID and a copy of your GnuPG/PGP fingerprint on
a sheet of paper to the event.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-01-31" time="6:00 PM" room="MC2037"
title="UNIX 101: First Steps With UNIX">
<abstract>
This is the first in a series of seminars that cover the use of
the UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of
applications, both in academia and industy. We will be covering
the basics of the UNIX environment, as well as the use of PINE, an
electronic mail and news reader.
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-02-13" time="4:00 PM" room="MC4060"
title="DVD-Video Under Linux">
<short>Billy Biggs will be holding a talk on DVD technology
(in particular, CSS and playback issues) under Linux, giving some
technical details as well as an overview of the current status of
Free Software efforts. All are welcome.</short>
<abstract>
<p>DVD copy protection: Content Scrambling System (CSS)</p>
<ul>
<li>A technical introduction to CSS and an overview of the ongoing
legal battle to allow distribution of non-commercial DVD
players</li>
<li>The current Linux software efforts and open issues</li>
<li>How applications and Linux distributions are handling the
legal issues involved</li>
</ul>
<p>DVD-Video specifics: Menus and navigation</p>
<ul>
<li>An overview of the DVD-Video standard</li>
<li>Reverse engineering efforts and their implementation status</li>
<li>Progress of integration into Linux media players</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-02-07" time="6:00 PM" room="MC2037"
title="Unix 102: Fun With UNIX">
<short>This the second in a series of UNIX tutorials. Simon Law and
James Perry will be presenting some more advanced UNIX
techniques. All are welcome. Accounts will be provided for those
needing them.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
This is the second in a series of seminars that cover the use of
the UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of
applications, both in academia and industry. We will provide you
with hands-on experience with the Math Faculty's UNIX environment
in this tutorial.
</p>
<p>Topics that will be discussed include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Interacting with Bourne and C shells</li>
<li>Editing text using the vi text editor</li>
<li>Editing text using the Emacs display editor</li>
<li>Multi-tasking and the screen multiplexer</li>
</ul>
<p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will
be lent to you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-03-01" time="5:00 PM" room="MC4060"
title="Computer Go, The Ultimate">
<short>Thomas Wolf from Brock University will be holding a talk on
the asian game of Go. All are welcome.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The asian game go is unique in a number of ways. It is the oldest
board game known. It is a strategy game with very simple
rules. Computer programs are very weak despite huge efforts and
prizes of US$ &gt; 1.5M for a program beating professional
players. The talk will quickly explain the rules of go, compare go
and chess, mention various attempts to program go and describe our
own efforts in this field. Students will have an opportunity to
solve computer generated go problems. Prizes will be available.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Spring 2002 -->
<eventitem date="2002-05-11" time="7:00 PM" room="MC3036" title="S02
elections">
<short>Come and vote for this term's exec</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Vote for the exec this term. Meet at the CSC office.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<!-- Fall 2002 -->
<eventitem date="2002-09-16" time="5:30 PM" room="Comfy lounge"
title="F02 elections">
<short>Come and vote for this term's exec</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Vote for the exec this term. Meet at the comfy
lounge. There will be an opportunity to obtain or renew
memberships. This term's CRO is Siyan Li
(s8li@csclub.uwaterloo.ca).
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-09-30" time="6:30 PM" room="Comfy lounge, MC3001"
title="Business Meeting">
<short>Vote on a constitutional change.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
The executive has unanimously decided to try to change our
constitution to comply with MathSoc policy. The clause we are trying
to change is the membership clause. The following is the proposed new
reading of the clause.
</p>
<p><i>
In compliance with MathSoc regulations and in recognition of
the club being primarily targeted at undergraduate students, full
membership is open to all undergraduate students in the Faculty of
Mathematics and restricted to the same.</i>
</p>
<p>
The proposed change is illustrated <a
href="http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/docs/constitution-change-20020920.html">on
a web page</a>.
</p>
<p>
There will be a business meeting on 30 Sept 2002 at 18:30 in
the comfy lounge, MC 3001. Please come and vote
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-09-26" time="5:30 PM" room="MC3006"
title="UNIX 101">
<short>First Steps with UNIX</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Get to know UNIX and be the envy of your friends!
</p>
<p>
This is the first in a series of seminars that cover the use
of the UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of
applications, both in academia and industy. We will provide
you with hands-on experience with the Math Faculty's UNIX
environment in this seminar.
</p>
<p>
Topics that will be discussed include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>Navigating the UNIX environment</li>
<li>Using common UNIX commands</li>
<li>Using the PICO text editor</li>
<li>Reading electronic mail and news with PINE</li>
</ul>
<p>
If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be
lent to you for the duration of this class.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-01" time="6:30 PM-9:30 PM" room="The Bomber"
title="Pints with the Profs">
<short>Get to know your profs and be the envy of your friends!</short>
<abstract>
<p>Come out and meet your professors. This is a great opportunity to
meet professors for Undergraduate Research jobs or to find out who you might
have for future courses.</p>
<p>Profs who have confirmed their attendance are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Troy Vasiga, School of Computer Science</li>
<li>J.P. Pretti, St. Jerome's and School of Computer Science</li>
<li>Michael McCool, School of Computer Science, CGL</li>
<li>Martin Karsten, School of Computer Science, BBCR</li>
<li>Gisli Hjaltason, School of Computer Science, DB</li>
</ul>
<p>There will also be...</p>
<ul>
<li>Free Food</li>
<li>Free Food</li>
<li>Free Food</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-03" time="5:30 PM" room="MC3006"
title="UNIX 102">
<short>Talking to your UNIX can be fun and profitable.</short>
<abstract>
<p>This is the second in a series of seminars that cover the use of
the UNIX Operating System. UNIX is used in a variety of applications,
both in academia and industry. We will provide you with hands-on
experience with the Math Faculty's UNIX environment in this
tutorial.</p>
<p>Topics that will be discussed include:</p>
<ul><li>Interacting with Bourne and C shells</li>
<li>Editing text using the vi text editor</li>
<li>Editing text using the Emacs display editor</li>
<li>Multi-tasking and the screen multiplexer</li>
</ul>
<p>If you do not have a Math computer account, don't panic; one will be
lent to you for the duration of this class.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-08" time="4:30PM" room="MC4045"
title="Video cards, Linux display drivers and the Kernel Graphics Interface (KGI)">
<short>A talk by Filip Spacek, KGI developer</short>
<abstract>
Linux has proven itself as a reliable operating system but arguably,
it still lacks in support of high performance graphics
acceleration. This talk will describe basic components of a PC video
card and the design and limitations the current Linux display driver
architecture. Finally a an overview of a new architecture, the Kernel
Graphics Interface (KGI), will be given. KGI attempts to solve the
shortcomings of the current design, and provide a lightweight and
portable interface to the display subsystem.
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-10" time="5:30pm" room="MC3006"
title="UNIX 103">
<short></short>
<abstract>No abstract available yet.</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-05" time="4:30 PM" room="MC 2065"
title="The Evil Side of C++">
<short>Abusing template metaprogramming in C++; aka. writing a
Mandelbrot generator that runs at compile time</short>
<abstract>
<p>Templates are a useful feature in C++ when it comes to writing
type-independent data structures and algorithms. Relatively soon
after their appearance it was realised that they could be used to
do much more than this. Essentially it is possible to write
certain programs in C++ that execute <i>completely at compile
time</i> rather than run time. Combined with constant-expression
optimisation this is an interesting twist on regular C++
programming.</p>
<p>This talk will give a short overview of the features of
templates and then go on to describe how to &quot;abuse&quot;
templates to perform complex computations at compile time. The
speaker will present three programs of increasing complexity which
execute at compile time. First a factorial listing program, then a
prime listing program will be presented. Finally the talk will
conclude with the presentation of a <b>Mandelbrot generator running
at compile time</b>.</p>
<p>If you are interested in programming for the fun of it, the C++
language or silly tricks to do with languages, this talk is for
you. No C++ knowledge should be necessary to enjoy this talk, but
programming experience will make it more worthwile for you.</p>
</abstract> </eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-02" time="11:00AM-3:00PM"
room="MC3002 (Math Coffee and Donut Store)"
title="GNU/Linux InstallFest with KW-LUG and UW-DIG">
<short>Bring over your computer and we'll help you install GNU/Linux</short>
<abstract>
<p>The <a href="http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/">CSC</a>, the <a
href="http://www.kwlug.org/">KW-Linux User Group</a>, and the <a
href="http://uw-dig.uwaterloo.ca/">UW Debian Interest Group</a>
are jointly hosting a GNU/Linux InstallFest. GNU/Linux is a
powerful, free operating system for your computer. It is mostly
written by talented volunteers who like to share their efforts
and help each other.</p>
<p>Perhaps you have are you interested in installing GNU/Linux.
If so, bring your computer, monitor and keyboard; and we will
help you install GNU/Linux on your machine. You can also find
knowledgable people who can answer your questions about
GNU/Linux.</p>
<hr />
<h3>Frequently Asked Questions</h3>
<p><b>Q: </b>What is GNU/Linux?<br />
<b>A: </b>GNU/Linux is a free operating system for your computer. It is mostly
written by talented volunteers who like to share their efforts.
</p>
<p><b>Q: </b>Free?<br />
<b>A: </b>GNU/Linux is available for zero-cost. As well, it allows you such
freedom to share it with your friends, or to modify the software to
your own needs and share that with your friends. It's very friendly.
</p>
<p><b>Q: </b>What is an InstallFest?<br />
<b>A: </b>An InstallFest is a meeting where volunteers help people install
GNU/Linux on their computers. It's also a place to meet users, and
talk to them about running GNU/Linux.
</p>
<p><b>Q: </b>What kind of computer do I need to use GNU/Linux?<br />
<b>A: </b>Almost any recent computer will do. If you have an old machine
kicking around, you can install GNU/Linux on it as well. If it is
at least 5 years old, it should be good enough.
</p>
<p><b>Q: </b>Can I have Windows and GNU/Linux on the same computer?<br />
<b>A: </b>If you can run Windows now, and you have an extra gigabyte (GB) of
disk space to spare; then it should be possible.
</p>
<p><b>Q: </b>What should I bring if I want to install GNU/Linux?<br />
<b>A: </b>You will want to bring:</p>
<ol>
<li>Computer</li>
<li>Monitor and monitor cable</li>
<li>Power cords</li>
<li>Keyboard and mouse</li>
</ol>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-07" time="5:30pm" room="MC4063"
title="The GNU General Public License">
<short>The teeth of Free Software</short>
<abstract>
<p>
<blockquote>
<i>
The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom
to share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public License
is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free
software---to make sure the software is free for all its users.
</i><br/>--- Excerpt from the GNU GPL
</blockquote>
</p>
<p>The GNU General Public License is one of the most influencial
software licenses in this day. Written by Richard Stallman for the
GNU Project, it is used by software developers around the world to
protect their work.
</p>
<p>
Unfortunately, software developers do not read licenses thoroughly, nor
well. In this talk, we will read the entire GNU GPL and explain the
implications of its passages. Along the way, we will debunk some myths
and clarify common misunderstandings.
</p>
<p>
After this session, you ought to understand what the GNU GPL means, how
to use it, and when you cannot use it. This session should also give
you some insight into the social implications of this work.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-19" time="4:30pm" room="MC4058"
title="Metaprogramming GPUs">
<short>A talk by Michael McCool of the Computer Graphics Lab.</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Modern graphics accelerators, or "GPUs", have embedded high-performance
programmable components in the form of vertex and fragment shading units.
Recently, these units have evolved from 8-bit computations to floating-point,
and other operations provide array gather, scatter, and summation.
These capabilities make GPUs akin to array processors of the
past, but with a difference: every PC now has one! I am interested
in finding the best way to exploit this computational capacity for not
only graphics but for general-purpose computation.
</p><p>
Current APIs permit specification of the programs for GPUs
using an assembly-language level interface. Compilers for high-level
shading languages are available, such as NVIDIA's Cg, and OpenGL 2.0 and
DirectX will also include standardized shading languages. This talk will
review these. However, compilers for these languages read in an external
string specification, which can be inconvenient.
</p><p>
However, it is possible, using standard C++, to define a high-level
shading language directly in the API. Such a language can be nearly
indistinguishable from a special-purpose programming language, yet
permits more direct interaction with the specification of textures
(arrays) and parameters, simplifies implementation, and enables
on-the-fly generation, manipulation, and specialization of shader programs.
A shading language built into the API also permits the lifting of
C++ host language type, modularity, and scoping constructs into the shading
language without any additional implementation effort. Such an
embedded language could be used to program other embedded processors
(such as DSP chips in sound cards) or even to generate machine language
on the fly for the host CPU.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-16" time="1:30pm" room="York University"
title="Trip to York University">
<short>Going to visit the York University Computer Club</short>
<abstract><p>YUCC and the UW CSC have having a join meeting at York
University. Dave Makalsky, the President of YUCC, will be giving a talk on
Design-by-constract and Eiffel. Stefanus Du Toit, Vice-President of the UW
CSC, will be giving a talk on the evil depths of the black art known as C++.
</p><p>Schedule</p>
<ul><li>1:30pm: Leave UW</li>
<li>3:00pm: Arrive at York University.</li>
<li>3:30pm: The Evil side of C++</li>
<li>4:30pm: Design-by-Contract and Eiffel</li>
<li>6:00pm: Dinner</li>
<li>9:00pm: Arrive back at UW</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-21" time="6:00pm" room="MC2066"
title="Perl 6">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Perl, the Practical Extraction and Reporting Language can only
be described as an eclectic language, invented and refined by
a deranged system administrator, who was trained as a
linguist. This man, however, has declared:
</p>
<blockquote>
<i>
Perl 5 was my rewrite of Perl.
I want Perl 6 to be the community's rewrite of Perl and of the
community.
</i><br/>--- Larry Wall
</blockquote>
<p>
Whenever a language is designed by a committee, it is common
wisdom to avoid it. Not so with Perl, for it cannot get
worse. However strange these Perl people seem, Perl 6 is a
good thing coming. In this talk, I will demonstrate some Perl
5 programs, and talk about their Perl 6 counterparts, to show
you that Perl 6 will be cleaner, friendlier, and prettier.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-21" time="4:30pm" room="MC2066"
title="Samba and You">
<short>A talk by Dan Brovkovich, Mathsoc's Computing Director</short>
<abstract><p>
Samba is a free implementation of the Server Message Block (SMB)
protocol. It also implements the Common Internet File System (CIFS)
protocol, used by Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP to share files and
printers. </p><p>
SMB was originally developed in the early to mid-80's by IBM and was
further improved by Microsoft, Intel, SCO, Network Appliances, Digital
and many others over a period of 15 years. It has now morphed into CIFS,
a form strongly influenced by Microsoft. </p><p>
Samba is considered to be one of the key projects for the acceptance of
GNU/Linux and other Free operating systems (e.g. FreeBSD) in the
corporate world: a traditional Windows NT/2000 stronghold. </p><p>
We will talk about interfacing Samba servers and desktops with the
Windows world. From a simple GNU/Linux desktop in your home to the
corporate server that provides collaborative file/printer sharing,
logons and home directories to hundreds of users a day. </p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-26" time="1:30PM" room="MC2066"
title="GNU/Linux on HPPA">
<short>Carlos O'Donnell talks about &quot;the last of the legacy processors to fall before the barbarian horde&quot;</short>
<abstract>
<p>This whirlwind talk is aimed at providing an overview of the
GNU/Linux port for the HP PARISC processor. The talk will focus on
the &quot;intricacies&quot; of the processor, and in particular the
implementations of the Linux kernel and GNU Libc. After the talk
you should be acutely aware of how little code needs to be written
to support a new architecture! Carlos has been working on the port
for two years, and enjoying the fruits of his labour on a 46-node
PARISC cluster.</p>
<hr />
<p>
Carlos is currently in his 5th year of study at the University
of Western Ontario. This is his last year in a concurrent
Computer Engineering and Computer Science degree. His research
interest range from distributed and parallel systems to low
level optimized hardware design. He likes playing guitar and
just bought a Cort NTL-20, jumbo body, solid spurce top with
a mahogany back. Carlos hacks on the PARISC Linux kernel, GNU libc,
GNU Debugger, GNU Binutils and various Debian packages.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-26" time="3:00PM" room="MC2066"
title="The Hurd Interfaces">
<short>Marcus Brinkmann, a GNU Hurd developer, talks about the Hurd server interfaces, at the heart of a GNU/Hurd system</short>
<abstract>
<p>The Hurd server interfaces are at the heart of the Hurd system. They
define the remote procedure calls (RPCs) that are used by the servers, the
GNU C library and the utility programs to communicate with the Hurd system
and to implement the POSIX personality of the Hurd as well as other
features.</p>
<p>This talk is a walk through the Hurd RPCs, and will give an overview of how
they are used to implement the system. Individual RPCs will be used to
illustrate important or exciting features of the Hurd system in general,
and it will be shown how those features are accessible to the user at the
command line, too.</p>
<hr />
<p>Marcus Brinkmann is a math student at the Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum in
Germany. He is one of maintainers of the GNU Hurd project and the
initiator of the Debian GNU/Hurd binary distribution. He designed and
implemented the console subsystem of the Hurd, wrote the FAT filesystem
server, and fixed a lot of bugs, thus increasing the stability and
usability of the system.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-26" time="4:30PM" room="MC2066"
title="A GNU Approach to Virtual Memory Management in a Multiserver Operating System">
<short>Neal Walfield, a GNU Hurd developer, talks about a possible Virtual Memory Management subsystem for the GNU Hurd</short>
<abstract>
<p>Virtual memory management is one of the cornerstones of multiuser
operating systems. Most systems available today place all of the
policy in a monolithic virtual memory manager, VMM, isolated from the
rest of the system. Although secure and lightweight, users have no
way to communicate their anticipated memory needs and usage to the
system pager. As a result, the VMM can only implement a global paging
policy (typically, an approximation of LRU) which may be good on
average but is best for nobody.</p>
<p>With the port of Hurd to the L4 microkernel, this situation is being
readdressed. Due to its more distributed nature, a centralized
resource manager is not only more difficult to implement efficiently
but also contrary to the philosophy of the rest of the system. We are
currently exploring a model whereby each program is fully self-paged
and all compete for memory from a physical memory server. This talk
will first discuss how paging currently works in Mach and other
systems. An argument for an external paging policy will then be
presented followed by the requirements of such a design and the design
itself.</p>
<hr />
<p>Neal Walfield, a GNU Hurd developer, is from the University of Massachusetts
Lowell. Neal spent the summer of 2002 at University of Karlsruhe working
on porting the GNU Hurd to L4.</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-10-17" time="5:30PM" room="MC2065"
title="Debian in the Enterprise">
<short>A talk by Simon Law</short>
<abstract>
<p>The Debian Project produces a &quot;Universal Operating System&quot; that is
comprised entirely of Free Software. This talk focuses on using Debian
GNU/Linux in an enterprise environment. This includes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Where Debian can be deployed</li>
<li>Strategic advantages of Debian</li>
<li>Ways for business to give back to Debian</li>
</ul>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
<eventitem date="2002-11-12" time="4:30PM" room="MC4058"
title="Automatic Memory Management and Garbage Collection">
<short>A talk by James A. Morrison</short>
<abstract>
<p>
Do you ever wonder what java is doing while you wait? Have you ever used
Modula-3? Do you wonder how lazily you can Mark and Sweep? Would you like to
know how to Stop-and-Copy?
</p><p>
Come out to this talk and learn these things and more. No prior knowledge of
Garbage Collection or memory management is needed.
</p>
</abstract>
</eventitem>
</eventdefs>
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