A private site and server built and maintained by computer science professors at Austin Community College. It is a private site and server, not maintained or directly affiliated with ACC or the ACC Computer Science Department.

There are many reasons, but the primary reason is Linux is the de facto operating system of computer science, servers, the web, cloud computing, edge computing, AI/ML applications, and device computing. It is virtually guaranteed every programmer will work in Linux during their career, and it's important to understand the differences between operating systems.

The mission of ACC Computer Science is both to give the students the proper theoretical background for computer science and to prepare students for professional working environments. In professional work environments, submitting code is a serious and strict process. The class submission guidelines are "picky" and enforced strictly to help prepare and train students for the rigor of professional environments. Submission guidelines are so "picky" because students need the practice of paying strict attention to detail and specifications.

Some tools (e.g., git and GitHub) are mandatory; however, students are free to use any other tools as needed. This includes generative AI (with some restrictions).

Non-CS majors are welcome to take CS courses, but understand the topics and rigor are designed for CS majors, and those standards will be maintained uniformly.

Course schedules are not generally known to professors until the schedule is published. In other words, professors find out the same as students by looking up the schedule.

All courses and office hours are currently online.

To be eligible for a letter of recommendation, you need to fulfill the following: take at least two in-person classes (no exceptions), complete all coursework with a grade of “A,” be a computer science major, and be applying to a computer science program at a university or applying for a technical position in industry. In addition, I have to believe you are genuinely well-suited to the program or position to which you are applying. Meeting all criteria does not guarantee receiving a letter; it simply means it will be considered.

Attendance is not explicitly taken. You will not be directly penalized nor rewarded by attendance. However, you are expected to attend every class, and students who have excessive absences typically do very poorly. Students who miss more than 2-3 classes in a semester will usually fail by missing too much material and becoming unfamiliar with the class. It is in your best interest to attend every lecture, in-person or online.

I know how to program.

No.

Regarding the previous question, 'will I calculate your grade for you?' No. Because the formula is in the syllabus, you have access to your grades, and you are a computer science major. If you can't calculate your grade (simple arithmetic), we need to talk. Then I will show you how to calculate your own grade.