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CS 425 : ECE 428

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Fall 2026

 

Machine Problems (MPs)

  • Important Instructions and Notes:
    • MPs are ONLY for 4 credit on-campus students (not Coursera and not 3 cr on-campus).
    • Around 3-4 (on-campus) MPs will be posted here. You should work on your MPs in groups of 2. You can discuss concepts and clarifications of the MPs with other students and the course staff, but all solutions, code, and ideas must remain within the group.
    • If you are a 4 credit on-campus student: By 8/31, you must let us know what group you are in. To do so, fill out ONE FORM PER GROUP (before you click, please ensure you are already logged in via Google Apps@Illinois, not your regular gmail.com account), and do NOT email us your groups. Only one group member needs to submit the above form -- please coordinate so you submit ``exactly once'' per group!)
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  • Any major corrections will appear in red font in the MP document. Minor clarifications are posted on the pinned Piazza post. Please refresh the PDF and check Piazza often!
  • MPs are always due on a SUNDAY at 11.59 PM Central Time, and DEMOS are on the subsequent MONDAY.
  • [MP1 Specification Document]: Released 8/25. Due @ 9/13 11.59 PM Central Time (Sun). Demos on 9/14 (Mon).
  • [MP2 Specification Document]: Released 9/15. Due @ 9/27 11.59 PM Central Time (Sun). Demos on 9/28 (Mon).
  • [MP3 Specification Document]: To be Released 10/13. Due @ 11/8 11.59 PM Central Time (Sun). Demos on 11/9 (Mon).
    • Notes: See clarifications on pinned Piazza post (and other posts). Please check that pinned Piazza post often! Before posting your question on Piazza, please search on Piazza first with your keywords (your question may already have been asked and answered!)
  • [MP4 Specification Document]: To be Released 11/10. Due @ 12/6 11.59 PM Central Time (Sun). Demos on 12/7 (Mon).

Homework Assignments (HWs)

  • Important Instructions and Notes:
    • HWs are for ALL students (on-campus, online, Coursera, MCS-DS, all credit levels).
    • 4-5 Homework assignments (HWs) will be posted here. We try to stagger HW deadlines so that they are not the same as MP deadlines.
    • For HWs, you must submit solutions that are typed. Figures may be drawn by hand. Handwritten solutions will be returned without being graded. For each homework, please make sure each new problem solution starts on a fresh page. Homeworks are due at 11.59 PM Central Time on the due-date, for both MCS (online) and on-campus students (no excuses).
    • All students (on-campus and MCS Online via Coursera and MCS Chicago) must submit their HWs on Gradescope.com.
    • Please use the following Entry Code to self-sign up on Gradescope: ZJ7WWB
    • We will not accept emailed solutions or printed-out solutions.
    • You must work on all homeworks individually.
    • You can discuss concepts and clarifications of questions with other students and the course staff.
    • Unless otherwise specified, the only resources you can avail of in your HWs are the provided course materials (slides, textbooks, etc.), and communication with instructor/TA via the forum, e-mail, and office hours.

  • Any major corrections will appear in red font in the HW document. Minor clarifications are posted on the pinned Piazza post. Please refresh the PDF and check Piazza often!
  • [HW1 Document]: Released 8/27. Due 9/20 at 11.59 PM Central Time. (HW1 is due on a SUNDAY!)
  • [HW2 Document]: Released 9/21. Due 10/4 at 11.59 PM Central Time. (HW2 is due on a SUNDAY!)
  • [HW3 Document]: To be Released 10/12. Due @ 11/1 at 11.59 PM Central Time. (HW3 is due on a SUNDAY!)
    • Notes: See clarifications on pinned Piazza post (and other posts). Please check that pinned Piazza post often! Before posting your question on Piazza, please search on Piazza first with your keywords (your question may already have been asked and answered!)
  • [HW4 Document]: To be Released 11/3. Due @ 12/3 11.59 PM Central Time. (HW4 is due on a THURSDAY!)

    • Exams

    • ALL Students (on-campus, online, MCS Coursera) must take both Midterm and Final Exams. MCS Coursera students (only) will take exams online.
    • Midterm Exam on 10/8. See Course schedule (Lectures) for the date. It will be closed-book, closed notes. Calculators ok. NO cheatsheets or cellphones or other devices allowed.
    • Final Exam is at the end of the semester. The on-campus schedule is decided by campus, so please don't ask course staff for dates. When campus posts it, we will post it on the course website. Coursera exam windows are already available. Please do not contact us to find out or change final exam date.
    • Makeup/Conflict exams: If you need a makeup exam, please contact the instructors at least 2 weeks before the posted exam date (midterm/final). Conflict exams are not given for routine reasons (includes interviews, trips, conflicts with other classes, etc.). Conflict request is approved only upon a positive ack from the instructors. Instructors' decision is final on each case.
    • [Practice Midterm] Release: Sep 27. We will not release solutions (but feel free to use Piazza to discuss solutions for the practice midterm (only)).
    • Midterm solutions will be released after Midterm is graded.

    Regrading Policy (Important!)

    • This section on regrading policy is for ALL students.
    • All regrade requests must be submitted within 1 week of the graded HW/MP being returned. Regrade requests must be submitting in the same system as the original HW was submitted in (Gradescope or Coursera). Be sure to clearly indicate the reason for the regrade request.
    • Regrade requests submitted after one week of the HW/MP being returned will be denied.
    • All regrading decisions by the TA will be final (i.e., no regrade requests on regrades). Please do not indulge in back-and-forth discussion with the TA(s).