CS174Fall 2013Sec1Home Page/Syllabus

Server-side Web Programming

Instructor: Chris Pollett
Office: MH 214
Phone Number: (408) 924 5145
Email: chris@pollett.org
Office Hours: MW 6-7pm
Class Meets:
Sec1 MW 4:30:pm-5:45pm in DH351

Prerequisites

To take this class you must have taken: CS46B with a grade of C- or better.

Texts and Links

Required Texts: No textbook is required for this class. I will on occasion put up links for the material I'm presenting each week in the schedule below.
Online References and Other Links: XAMPP (Easy to install Apache, PHP, MySQL bundle).
Mozilla Javascript Reference.
PHP Manual.
Apache Webserver Site.
Firefox.

Topics and Outcomes

This class is designed for potential web server programmers. It begins with a quick overview of HTTP and common webservers. HTML and cascading style sheets will then be covered. PHP, a common webserver programming language, will be introduced. Then we will discuss building more sophisticated web applications using PHP classes and the model view controller design pattern. We will talk about how to connect a web application to a database and common techniques for performing the object-relational mapping to create models based on table data. Next we will discuss creating application specific mini web languages using XML. This will be used to introduce how to interact with a database using a REST API and AJAX techniques. In the process of covering the last two topics we will learn how to mitigate against common website attacks such as SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF, click-jacking. We will talk about how to make web sites available to people of different abilities, people who speak different languages. We will cover adding multimedia content to sites using HTML 5. In this context we will talk a little about mobile app development using HTML 5. Finally, we will talk a little bit about website search, and Search-Engine Optimization (SEO). By the end of this course, a student should be able to: (1) Write HTML documents containing standard HTML elements including forms, tables, client-side scripts, and server-side scripts. (2) Write schemas, DTDs, and style sheets for XML documents. (3) Write server-side scripts that process HTML forms. (4) Write client-side scripts that validate HTML forms. (5) Develop and deploy web applications that involve components, web services, and databases.

Below is a tentative time table for when we'll do things this quarter:

Week 1: Aug 19, Aug 21 (First Day) Web Browsers, Servers, and HTTP
Week 2: Aug 26, Aug 28 XHTML and HTML 5: Basic Tags, Tables and Forms.
Week 3: Sep 2 (Labor Day), Sep 4 Cascading Style Sheets
Week 4: Sep 9, Sep 11 Finish CSS, PHP
Week 5: Sep 16, Sep 18 Handling Forms, Files, Cookies, Sessions in PHP. Design Patterns.
Week 6: Sep 23, Sep 25 Object-Oriented PHP, Databases, Version Control
Week 7: Sep 30, Oct 2 Basic Javascript
Week 8: Oct 7, Oct 9 Advanced Javascript
Week 9: Oct 14, Oct 16 Review
Week 10: Oct 21, Oct 23 XML
Week 11: Oct 28, Oct 30 Web services, AJAX
Week 12: Nov 4, Nov 6 Security
Week 13: Nov 11 (Veteran's Day), Nov 13 Localization
Week 14: Nov 18, Nov 20 Scaling sites
Week 15: Nov 25, Nov 27 Multimedia and Mobile HTML5
Week 16: Dec 2, Dec 4 Search Engines, SEO
Week 17: Dec 9 Review
The final will be Thursday, December 12 from 2:45pm-5:00pm

Grading

HWs and Quizzes 50%
Midterm 20%
Final 30%
Total100%

Grades will be calculated in the following manner: The person or persons with the highest aggregate score will receive an A+. A score of 55 will be the cut-off for a C-. The region between this high and low score will be divided into eight equal-sized regions. From the top region to the low region, a score falling within a region receives the grade: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-. If the boundary between an A and an A- is 85, then the score 85 counts as an A-. Scores below 55 but above 50 receive the grade D. Those below 50 receive the grade F.

If you do better than an A- in this class and want me to write you a letter of recommendation, I will generally be willing provided you ask me within two years of taking my course. Be advised that I write better letters if I know you to some degree.

Classroom Protocol

I will start lecturing close to the official start time for this class modulo getting tangled up in any audio/visual presentation tools I am using. Once I start lecturing, please refrain from talking to each other, answering your cell phone, etc. If something I am talking about is unclear to you, feel free to ask a question about it. Typically, on practice tests days, you will get to work in groups, and in so doing, turn your desks facing each other, etc. Please return your desks back to the way they were at the end of class. This class has an online class discussion board which can be used to post questions relating to the homework and tests. Please keep discussions on this board civil. This board will be moderated. Class and discussion board participation, although not a component of your grade, will be considered if you ask me to write you a letter of recommendation.

Course Requirements, Homework and Quiz Info

The university policy regarding credit hours for classes states:
"SJSU classes are designed such that in order to be successful, it is expected that students will spend a minimum of forty-five hours for each unit of credit (normally three hours per unit per week), including preparing for class, participating in course activities, completing assignments, and so on. More details about student workload can be found in
University Policy S12-3."

This semester we will have five homeworks and weekly quizzes. Every Monday this semester, except the first day of class, the Midterm Review Day, and holidays, there will be a quiz on the previous week's material. The answer to the quiz will either be multiple choice, true-false, or a simple numeric answer that does not require a calculator. Each quiz is worth a maximum of 1pt with no partial credit being given. Out of the total of twelve quizzes this semester, I will keep your ten best scores.

Links to the current list of homeworks and quizzes can be found on the left hand frame of the class homepage. After an assignment has been returned, a link to its solution (based on the best student solutions) will be placed off the assignment page. Material from assignments may appear on midterms and finals. For homeworks you are encouraged to work in groups of up to three people. Only one person out of this group needs to submit the homework assignment; however, the members of the group need to be clearly identified in all submitted files.

Homeworks for this class will be submitted and returned completely electronically. To submit an assignment click on the submit homework link for your section on the left hand side of the homepage and filling out the on-line form. Hardcopies or e-mail versions of your assignments will be rejected and not receive credit. Homeworks will always be due by the start of class on the day their due. Late homeworks will not be accepted and missed quizzes cannot be made up; however, your lowest score amongst the five homeworks and your quiz total will be dropped.

For this class, I expect each student to have available a laptop with Apache, PHP, and MYSQL installed. Your laptop will be used whenever you want to show me something in my office concerning one of your projects.

When doing the programming part of an assignment please make sure to adhere to the specification given as closely as possible. Names of files should be as given, etc. Failure to follow the specification may result in your homework not being graded and you receiving a zero for your work.

Exams

The midterm will be during class time on: Oct 16.

The final will be: Thursday, December 12 from 2:45pm-5:00pm.

All exams are closed book, closed notes and in this classroom. You will be allowed only the test and your pen or pencil on your desk during these exams. The final will cover material from the whole semester although there will be an emphasis on material after the last midterm. No make ups will be given. The final exam may be scaled to replace a midterm grade if it was missed under provably legitimate circumstances. These exams will test whether or not you have mastered the material both presented in class or assigned as homework during the quarter. My exams usually consist of a series of essay style questions. I try to avoid making tricky problems. The week before each exam I will give out a list of problems representative of the level of difficulty of problems the student will be expected to answer on the exam. Any disputes concerning grades on exams should be directed to me, Professor Pollett.

Regrades

If you believe an error was made in the grading of your program or exam, you may request in person a regrade from me, Professor Pollett, during my office hours. I do not accept e-mail requests for regrades. A request for a regrade must be made no more than a week after the homework or a midterm is returned. If you cannot find me before the end of the semester and you would like to request a regrade of your final, you may see me in person at the start of the immediately following semester.

Academic Honesty

Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www.sjsu.edu/studentconduct/.

Specifically, for this class, you should obviously not cheat on tests. For homeworks, you should not discuss or share code or problem solutions between groups! At a minimum a 0 on the assignment or test will be given. A student caught using resources like Rent-a-coder will receive an F for the course and be referred to University for disciplinary action.

Additional Policies and Procedures

The campus policy to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is:
"If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with
Accessible Education Center to establish a record of their disability."

More information about SJSU policies and procedures can be found at the following links: