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Welcome to CS 128

What you need to do, now!

  • Carefully read the course syllabus.
  • Read the course syllabus again.
  • For good measure, read the course syllabus a third time.
  • Introduce yourself to your colleagues and the course staff on the course forum.
  • If you do not already have one, create a GitHub account at github.com.
  • Link your GitHub account by visiting My.CS128.
  • If you have DRES accommodations, you must email Prof. Nowak your letter with the subject line [CS 128] DRES Letter.
  • Log in to PrairieTest, accept your course invitation, and reserve a seat for the first quiz.
    • Note: Rosters are uploaded manually once per day during the add/drop period. If you don't see an invitation yet, check again tomorrow.
  • Review and bookmark the course calendar.
  • Begin setting up your development environment. If you encounter issues, our first recitation section will provide assistance.
  • Start watching the daily lessons and working through the associated programming exercises and questions.
  • Reminder: There is no "syllabus week" in CS 128—we hit the ground running on day one.

Course commencement

CS 128 begins Monday, August 25, 2025.

CS 128 is not a traditional lecture course. Instead, content is delivered through asynchronous daily lessons available on-demand through our course website. Each weekday (Monday–Friday), you’ll explore new concepts through text, video, and interactive walkthroughs. Each lesson must be completed by 11:59 PM the day after it is assigned.

Your responsibilities include:

  • Completing daily lessons
  • Submitting machine problems and taking quizzes
  • Attending weekly recitation

We do not send reminders. All deadlines are posted in the syllabus, which also contains complete course policies and late-work guidelines. You should add key dates to your planner now.

Getting started: The first day of class is Monday, August 25. Office hours will also begin that day. See the course calendar for times.

Recitation: Your first recitation will meet on Friday, August 29. In this session, we’ll review Week 1 material and help you set up your development environment. The Preflight MP will also be released that morning (5:00 AM, worth 10 points, due September 11).

Quizzes: All quizzes are scheduled in PrairieTest and taken in the CBTF. You must reserve a slot during the open reservation period for each quiz. The first quiz covers material up to its CBTF start date and may include syllabus questions.

A typical week

Please review the course syllabus to understand the schedule of machine problems (MPs) and quizzes. You can also reference the course calendar. Below is a typical week in CS 128:

Monday

  • New daily lessons for the week are released at 05:00 AM (Champaign, IL local time).
  • Work through Monday’s lesson — due Tuesday at 23:59.

Tuesday

  • Work through Tuesday’s lesson — due Wednesday at 23:59.

Wednesday

  • Work through Wednesday’s lesson — due Thursday at 23:59.

Thursday

  • Work through Thursday’s lesson — due Friday at 23:59.
  • Some weeks: MP deadline at 23:59.
  • If scheduled: Quiz reservation/testing window opens.

Friday

  • Work through Friday’s lesson — due Saturday at 23:59.
  • Some weeks: New MP released at 05:00 AM.

Saturday

  • Catch up on the week’s work — or take a break!

Sunday

  • If applicable: Quiz window closes.