Course Outline (Tentative) 

Texts:

• J. Magee, J. Kramer, Concurrency: State Models & Java Programming,, 2nd Edition, J. Wiley 2006.

The course may not always follow the text-book closely.

Lecture Notes (copies of transparencies) will be on the website a few days after a class.

Software Tools: You will have to obtain the LTSA tool from http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~jnm/book

Calendar Description: 

• Processes, threads, concurrency; synchronization mechanisms, resource management and sharing; objects and concurrency; design, architecture and testing of concurrent systems.

Mission: 

• The mission of this course is to give students an understanding of the basic techniques of concurrent system design and to introduce students to the appropriate modelling and analysis techniques.

Learning Objectives: Preconditions: 

Learning Objectives: Postconditions 

1. Students should know and understand
1. Basic models of concurrency, both algebraic and graphical
2. The concepts of process and thread
3. Resource management and sharing
4. Basic ideas of design and architecture of concurrent systems
5. Problems with testing and verification of concurrent systems
2. Students should be able to
1. Specify concurrent systems with process algebras and Petri nets.
2. Implement concurrent systems with processes, threads and other available tools.
3. Verify and test crucial parts of concurrent systems.

Evaluation 

Lecture notes and submissions will be via Avenue.

Late assignments will not be accepted, because solutions will be posted on the website a day after the due day. All assignment will be posted at least two weeks before deadlines (usually three weeks or even more), so everyone - including SAS students - will have enough time! Although you may discuss the general concept of the course material with your classmates, your assignment must be your individual effort.

Midterm: 

• The week of October 19 – 23, 8:00 pm, take home, submission via Avenue, details later.
  

MSAF policy: 

For each MSAF the weight will be moved to the final exam. More information on the MSAF procedure can be found at this link.

Important 

The instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes. 

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: AGrade of F assigned for academic dishonesty@), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/senate/academic/ac_integrity.htm

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one=s own or for which other credit has been obtained.
2. Improper collaboration in group work.
3. Copying and using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.