ARCHIVED

Selected Questions of Computer Science

Computer science foundations for Digital Humanities

Institution: University of GrazProgramme: Master's Programme in Digital HumanitiesFormat: University course2017–202410 Sessions

The historical repository identifies the same ten-part computer science curriculum for Introduction to Computer Science and Selected Questions of Computer Science. The course covered command-line work, information representation, logic, formal languages, computability, programming, algorithms and web foundations.

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Pollin

Contact: christopher.pollin@dhcraft.org

Material status

The shared ten-part curriculum and the session folders are verified. Some secondary paths inside archived GDI Markdown files still reflect the former repository structure and may no longer resolve.

Learning Outcomes

  • Use a command line and explain the role of operating-system tools
  • Represent information with number systems and character encodings
  • Apply propositional logic, predicate logic and set theory
  • Analyse regular languages, automata and Turing machines
  • Explain compilation, fundamental data structures and algorithms
  • Describe the protocols and identifiers underlying the web

Prerequisites

  • No formal prerequisites

Sessions

1
SESSION 1

Linux and the command line

File-system navigation, command-line tools and a reproducible local working environment.

Topics
  • Linux
  • Shell
  • Files and processes

MATERIALS:

Slides, installation guide and exercises
2
SESSION 2

Computer science, data, information and knowledge

Computer science as a discipline, information theory and the distinction between data, information and knowledge.

Topics
  • Computer science and informatics
  • Information
  • Entropy
  • DIKW

MATERIALS:

Slides, script and reading
3
SESSION 3

Number systems, bits and character encoding

Binary representation, hexadecimal notation, Unicode and UTF-8.

Topics
  • Binary and hexadecimal
  • Bits and bytes
  • Unicode

MATERIALS:

Slides, script, videos and exercises
4
SESSION 4

Propositional logic

Boolean algebra, truth tables and formal reasoning.

Topics
  • Boolean algebra
  • Truth tables
  • Logical equivalence

MATERIALS:

Slides, script, videos and exercises
5
SESSION 5

Sets and predicate logic

Set operations, quantification and predicates.

Topics
  • Set theory
  • Predicates
  • Quantifiers

MATERIALS:

Slides, scripts, videos and exercises
6
SESSION 6

Formal languages and automata

Regular expressions, grammars and finite-state machines.

Topics
  • Formal languages
  • Regular expressions
  • Automata

MATERIALS:

Slides, script, videos and exercises
7
SESSION 7

Turing machines

A formal model of computation and the limits of computability.

Topics
  • Turing machines
  • Computability
  • State transitions

MATERIALS:

Slides, video and simulator exercises
8
SESSION 8

Programming, compilers and assembly

The path from source code to machine instructions.

Topics
  • C
  • Compiler
  • Assembly

MATERIALS:

Slides, code examples and exercises
9
SESSION 9

Data structures and algorithms

Graphs, recursion, sorting and asymptotic complexity.

Topics
  • Data structures
  • Algorithms
  • Big O

MATERIALS:

Slides, videos and exercises
10
SESSION 10

Internet and web

Network protocols, HTTP and web identifiers.

Topics
  • TCP and UDP
  • HTTP
  • URI, URL and URN

MATERIALS:

Slides and course script

Resources

Online Resources