CS7933: Ultra Large Scale Systems (Fall 2007)

• location: LCR (MEB 3147)
• time: Weds 10:45 AM-11:35 AM
• instructor: John Regehr, regehr@cs.utah.edu
• John's office hours: after class or by appointment
• prerequisites: none
• class mailing list: cs7933@cs.utah.edu -- everyone enrolled in the class should subscribe to this list
• add/drop policy: the University is strict on this, see here for details and also keep the academic calendar in mind
• incomplete policy: incompletes are a pain for everyone and I won't give you one unless you have a documented legal or medical emergency

ULS are software-intensive systems that will be built in the foreseeable future that exceed the size of those that can be built today. Examples include a smart, adaptive power grid; a system for collecting, fusing, analyzing, and exploiting information across an entire theater of war; an automatic driving system for a major city.

ULS will tend to be decentralized, heterogeneous, continuously evolving, and safety critical. The full set of requirements will never be available. Systems with these characteristics are notoriously difficult to implement, and efforts to do so commonly fail in expensive and embarrassing ways. It is safe to say that new engineering methods will be needed to create ULS.

The seminar will begin by reading and discussing a recent report that introduces ultra large scale systems and their associated research issues. Subsequent discussion and reading will be driven by the interests of the seminar's attendees. Students enrolling for credit will be responsible for presenting material and leading discussions. No particular background or research area will be assumed.