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CS 425 : ECE 428

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Fall 2025

 

Machine Problems (MPs)

  • Important Instructions and Notes:
    • This section on MPs is only for 4 credit on-campus students (not Coursera or 3 cr on-campus). (3 credit students or MCS-DS are welcome to do the MPs, but we will not be able to grade or evaluate them or treat them as extra credit.)
    • All (on-campus) Machine Problems (MPs) will be posted here. There will be three to four MPs. Unless otherwise stated, you should work on your MP 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 Monday 9/1 @ 5 pm, you must let us know what group you are in. To do so, please do BOTH of the following (ONCE each per group, not per group member):
      1. Fill out the form [at this link]  (before you click, please ensure you are already logged in via Google Apps@Illinois, not your regular gmail.com account), and
      2. That's it! (Please do NOT email us your groups. And only one group member needs to submit the above form -- please coordinate so that you submit ``exactly once'' per group!)

  • Any corrections will appear in red font in MP document. Please refresh (and check Piazza) often!
  • MPs are always due on a SUNDAY 11.59 PM, and DEMOS are the immediately following day (MONDAY).
  • [MP1 Specification Document]: Released 8/26. Due @ 9/14 11.59 PM US Central Time (Sun). Demos on 9/15 (Mon).
    • All clarifications will be posted on Piazza.
    • Recommended Solutions (from FA25 Student Submissions, Released 9/17/25.) Go, C, Java, Python, C++.
  • [MP2 Specification Document]: Released 9/16. Due @ 9/28 11.59 PM US Central Time (Sun). Demos on 9/29 (Mon).
    • Notes: The time for this MP is short. Start NOW (right after MP release)! Other Clarifications after assignment release will appear on Piazza.
    • Note on using Recommended Solutions: You may use the "Recommended Solutions" code (or your own code from MP1) for your MP2 (and onwards). The choice of these groups' MPs is not an endorsement or guarantee of a perfect score. If you choose to use any of the Recommended Solutions, please understand that you are responsible for debugging any issues that arise therein.
    • Recommended Solutions in most common languages (from FA25 Student Submissions, Released 10/8/25.) Go, C, Java, Python, C++, Rust.
  • [MP3 Specification Document]: Released 10/14. Due @ 11/9 11.59 PM US Central Time (Sun). Demos on 11/10 (Mon).
    • Notes: This is a difficult MP. Start NOW (right after MP release)! Other Clarifications after assignment release will appear on Piazza.
  • [MP4 Specification Document]: Released 11/11. Due @ 12/7 11.59 PM US Central Time (Sun). Demos on 12/8 (Mon).

Homework Assignments (HWs)

  • Important Instructions and Notes:
    • This section on HWs is for ALL students (on-campus, online, Coursera, MCS-DS, all credit levels).
    • Homework assignments (HWs) will be posted here. There will be about four to five HWs. We try to stagger HW deadlines so that they are not the same as MP deadlines.
    • ALL Students (on-campus, online, MCS Coursera, MCS Chicago) must do all HWs

    • 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, and that your name appears at the top of each page. Homeworks are due at the start of the lecture 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: GVKNYV
    • We will not accept emailed solutions or printed 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 HW document, or be noted in Piazza links below. Please refresh!
  • [HW1 Document]: Released 8/26. Due @ 9/18 at 2 pm Central. (HW1 is due on a THURSDAY!)
    • [HW1 Solutions] Released 9/22 11.10 am US Central.
    • 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!)
  • [HW2 Document]: Released 9/19. HW2 due 10/5 at 2 pm Central (HW2 is due on a SUNDAY!)
    • [HW2 Solutions] Released 10/6 3 pm US Central.
    • 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!)
  • [HW3 Document]: Released 10/14. Due @ 11/2 at 2 pm Central. (HW3 is due on a SUNDAY!)
    • Notes: 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] (last HW!): Released 11/4. Due @ 12/4 2 pm US Central. (HW4 is due on a THURSDAY!)
    • Notes: 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!)

    Exams

    • ALL Students (on-campus, online, MCS Coursera) must take both Midterm and Final Exams. If you are off-campus (MCS Coursera only) you will be doing exams in a timed manner on Gradescope (no ProctorU needed).
    • Midterm Exam around the middle of the semester. See Course schedule (Lectures) for a tentative 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]Released on 09/30. We will not release solutions (but feel free to use Piazza to discuss solutions for the practice midterm (only)).
    • Midterm solutions released after Midterm is graded.

    Regrading Policy (Important!)

    • This section on regrading policy is for ALL students.
    • All regrade requests must be submitted back 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 not be regraded.
    • All regrading decisions by the TA will be final (i.e., no regrade requests on regrades). Please do not engage in back-and-forth discussion with the TA(s).