websys-uts-tips.md

Web Systems - 31268

• Handbook
• Subject Outline
• Online Textbook (available after logging in with your UTS credentials).

Subject Info

This subject teaches you computer science concepts, introduces you to Linux and web development. A really good introductory subject made better by the lecturer Chris Wong 😊

Prerequisites

Ryan's Tutorials is a good resource to become acquainted with Linux, HTML/CSS, and computer science concepts. Notable tutorials linked below:

• Linux, HTML and CSS tutorials

• Number systems (e.g. binary, hex, and octal conversions)

Another suggestion is to attend the Unix workshop that is held during Orientation week. If the session is full, try and get the room number by contacting staff via email - people often register but do not show up. This is a very basic introduction on Unix.

For Windows users I would recommend MobaXterm as SSH client. It has various niceties that are simply not present in PuTTY.

Classes

As of 2017, there were online lectures, seminars, and labs for this subject. The lectures are studied online weekly. There are some seminars presented by a lecturer to cover important topics that happen once every few weeks. The weekly labs are where you will be learning your Linux skills and where there will be a short group presentation.

Assessments

Group Presentation

This is a fairly small and simple presentation about subjects relating to lecture content. Our group made the decision to present this in week 3 to get it out of the way. It was less stressful this way when larger and more difficult assessments piled up.

Quizzes

Worth around 4-5% of the subject and are a useful way to check your knowledge.

Website

Many students start this early, especially if you have basic HTML and CSS knowledge. Some resources to start learning HTML/CSS:

• W3 Schools
• Mozilla Developer Network
• Codeacademy
• General Assembly Dash (I really enjoyed this)
• Free code camp

Be sure to adhere to the assignment requirements. You can view previous students' submissions by following this google search link.

Additionally, I would recommend using Brackets to help develop your website as it is an open source text editor designed for web development by Adobe.

Skills test

This is a test of your Linux skills that you have developed through LinuxGym. I highly recommend doing the practice skills test as much as possible and getting familiar with bash, vim, grep, awk, sed amongst other utilities.

Tips

• Spend lab time either working on linuxgym or work on developing your website.
• linuxgym is actually accessible from your home computer. It essentially involves downloading the linuxgym image and then creating a VM in either VMware or VirtualBox. Instructions made by a previous student can be found .
• Get the group project done as early as possible to focus on harder assessments due later in the session.
• Start building and learning Linux and web development early by using the resources provided above.
• Create your own bash scripts and experiment with using the various Linux tools and utilities.
• Attend UPASS. This is a really great program that lets you study in a group environment led by students who have previously taken the subject and have done exceptionally well. My experience with UPASS has been all but positive. If it is full, attend the room anyway as often many people who have signed up do not attend.