Getting Started

For this class, we will be working with Linux systems and learning to use the bash command line, C++ programming, and some basic software engineering techniques.

MathLab

The computers in the MathLab (S-235) run an older version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution of the Linux operating system. We will mostly use them as terminals to access remote servers that are more up-to-date.

Note

This actually mimics how we often work in the real world, especially using research computing resources.

Logging into the desktops

You username and password for logging into the desktop machines are those of your NetID.

Tip

If the machines seems non-responsive, you can wake it up by typing:

Ctrl-Alt-F2 followed by Ctrl-Alt-F1.

Then you should see the login screen.

Once logged in you will want to access the terminal. On the Ubuntu systems, access the “Activities” menu in the upper-left and then scroll through the applications, looking for “Konsole” or “Terminal”

Important

At the end of class, log out. You can do this by accessing the menu in the upper-right of the screen.

The Terminal

Our standard interface to the computer is the command line, accessible via the terminal app.

The terminal is our window to the computer. It runs an interactive shell called Bash that we enter commands into.

Try it…

A simple Unix command is echo. It simply repeats whatever you type:

echo Hello, World!

Type this in, and then press Enter.