Teaching Team

Nick Parlante
nick parlante headshot
Lecturer
nick@cs.stanford.edu
Tue 3:30-5pm, Wed 3-5pm in Durand 311 or picnic tables outside Durand, Zoom
Ngoc Nguyen
ngoc nguyen headshot
Head TA
ngocng@stanford.edu
Thu 10:30-12pm, Fri 3-4:30pm in Durand 303

Where is Durand?

exterior of Durand building

Announcements

Final Exam Logistics

The final exam is in person on Monday, December 9th from 10-11:30am. Although the syllabus originally listed a different start time, we'll only be using the second half of our block.

Please click this link to find your seating assignment for our final exam. Note that you might be starting at a different time if you have OAE accommodations.

If you think there is an error with your assigned seat or time, let Ngoc know ASAP!

Important Exam Logistics:

  • There will be a review session on Friday, Dec 6th during normal class time in Hewlett 200
  • It is important that you check your seat assignment ahead of time and take a screenshot at least a day in advance in case the system goes down on exam day
  • Please arrive at least 5 minutes early to account for finding your assigned seating and exam distribution. We'll start promptly at your assigned start time
  • The exam will be on paper. Please bring a pencil or pen to write with. To be clear, this means no notes, no computers, no phone, unless you have special accommodations
  • This will be a closed-note exam. We will provide blank scratch paper for you as well as the same reference guide that is on the final prep handout
  • We have a final prep handout with problems and solutions
  • We recommend taking these exams in an exam-like setting: past final 1, past final 2, and past final 3

Good luck studying on all of your finals!!

Announcements

Hi everyone! Below are some announcements about this week!

  • For our last lecture on Monday, Dec 2nd, Nick will hold an AMA after class
  • Come to Nick's office hours during Week 10 if you have questions about CS or the major!
  • Wed OH will be in person and Nick will check Zoom at 3pm and 4pm
  • We'll have a final review session on Friday, Dec 6th during class time
  • The final exam is 10am - 11:30am on Monday, Dec 9th! Students with OAE accommodations may earlier start times, Ngoc will reach out
  • We will release a seating chart later this week
  • Sections this week will be final exam review!
  • CGOE students please let Ngoc know if you will be joining us on campus for the final exam and need a desk
  • Please fill out this form if you need a left-handed desk
  • Check out more info final exam review materials below

Final Exam Review Materials

We've published three past final exams, which can be found under the "Handouts" tab. Here are some review materials you've got this week:

  • We have a final prep handout with problems and solutions.
  • We recommend taking these exams in an exam-like setting: past final 1, past final 2, and past final 3.
  • We'll also be doing final review in section. That will draw from the prep handout, so no section handout this week.
  • We're holding a review session this Friday during normal class in Hewlett 200. The recording will be posted on Canvas.

Remember that course resources we've had all quarter, like the experimental server, section problems, and midterm materials are also great for studying!
Homework 8 Released

We have released the final homework, HW8, which will be due Wednesday, Dec 4th at 11:55pm. We'll still have the usual grace period until Friday. Here's the HW8 handout.

Last Class on Monday 12/2

Hi everyone! Come join us on Monday, December 2nd for the final lecture of the quarter!

Retraction and Retroactive Citation Policy

We described our honor code policy at the beginning of the quarter, but we wanted to revisit our rules on homework collaboration. Essentially, you are welcome to exchange ideas with other students and the staff, but then you should take those insights and use them to write your own code. If you feel you made a mistake over the course of the quarter, please read this retroactive citation and retraction handout detailing some next steps. You can fill out the retractive citation form if you feel that you have violated the honor code while working on an assignment this quarter.

If you have any questions about whether to submit this form, or would like to submit a citation after the form as closed, please email Nick or Ngoc.

Encryption Winners

Congrats to the first students to solve the encryption riddle from last week!

Jason Zhang, Sarah N Schenck, Sue Zhang, MeiLi O’Bannon, Edmund James Dyer-Essig, Iok Kei Kevin Chen, Abel Kiflom Gebretinsae, Jyel Nori Hollingsworth, John-Peter Nindi, Jason Cody Canaday, Shoshana Sarah Elgart, Eyram Benjamin Nana Kwame Degbey, Kai Lobell, Joseph Wande Ho, Gianna Yan, Jasper Karlson, Sarah N Schenck, and Grace Bedia.

Homework 7 Released

We have released both parts of HW7, which will be due on Wednesday, November 20th at 11:55pm. You can find it by clicking the Assignments tab.

Final Exam Seating Chart

We will be having seating charts for the final exam.

Please fill out this form if you need a left-handed desk.

CGOE students please let Ngoc know if you will be taking the exam on campus and need a desk.

Homework 6 Released

We have released parts A and B of HW6. This is a longer assignment, so we suggest that you start early and get help in LaIR and office hours!

Both parts are due Wednesday, November 13th at 11:55pm PT.

Midterm Grades and Solutions
Midterm histogram. Median is 88. Starting at 0 points, the bars trail off to the left. The largest group of students received 90-95 points.

We will release the grades for the Midterm on Gradescope near the end of class. You must log in with your Stanford email to see your score. Solutions and statistics can be found on the Midterm Solution Handout.

We try to grade as consistently as possible, but we are human and we might make mistakes. After reading through the solution handout, if you feel that one of your problems was misgraded, please file a regrade request on Gradescope. Please submit regrade requests by Monday, November 11th at 11:55pm PT. Note that your section leader is NOT able to regrade your work. If you submit a regrade request, we do reserve the right to regrade the entire problem and make any necessary corrections.

Any regrade requests after Monday (11/11) should be directed to Ngoc via email.

Nick will still be having his normal OH this Tuesday.

Homework 5 Released, due MONDAY 11/4

We have released HW5, which will be due on Monday, November 4th, at 11:55pm. To access the assignment handouts, we ask that you complete a short evaluation survey. It's mostly an opportunity to give feedback on your section leader. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete.

No Class on Monday 10/28, Nick's OH Cancelled

Hi everyone! As a reminder, there is no class on Monday 10/28, and Nick's office hours will be cancelled this Tuesday 10/29!.

Midterm Exam Logistics

The midterm is in-person on Monday, October 28th from 7-8pm. We will announce seating arrangements on Friday 10/25. If you have OAE exam accommodations, you should have received an email from Ngoc about your midterm logistics. Please reach out if you haven't heard anything.

  • Last names Aa - Hu will be in Hewlett 200.
  • Last names Huang - Lieu will be in Hewlett 201.
  • Last names Lim - Zz will be in CEMEX Auditorium.

There is no class on Monday 10/28!

Some of our section leaders will be holding a review session on Friday at 3:30pm, in building 380, room 380C. We will post a recorded version of this session to Canvas.

Nick will hold ask-anything hours after class Friday at 2:45pm at Bytes cafe. We’ll do this multiple times this quarter.

Review Materials:

Important Exam Logistics:

  1. Please arrive at least 5 minutes early to account for seating and exam distribution. We'll start promptly at 7pm.
  2. The exam will be on paper. Please bring a pencil or pen to write with. To be clear, this means no notes, no computers, no phone, unless you have special accomodations.
  3. This will be a closed-note exam. We will provide blank scratch paper for you as well as the same reference guide that is on the midterm prep handout.

Bluescreen Contest

We had the Bluescreen Contest in class on Friday! See these slides containing the top bluescreen submissions nominated by section leaders.

Student votes are in, check out the bluescreen winners presentation.

Congratulations to our winners:

  • Most artistic winner: Maanya Govil
  • Most artistic runner ups: John Layton and Sara Surayan
  • Best humor winner: Jason Canaday
  • Best humor runner ups: Joey Tenesaca and Brant Bueno
  • Best background winners: Ruby Gates, Agostino Rocca, and Tianrun Yan
  • Best photo with celebrity winner: Allen Liao
  • Best photo with celebrity runner ups: Owen Grossman and Valerie Huang
Homework 4 Released

We have just posted HW4, Cryptography. Like HW2, this assignment has an ethics portion that you should submit along with your code.

Week 4 Announcements
  • Our Midterm will be 10/28 at 7 pm. If you have a Midterm conflict, let Ngoc know!
  • Homework 4 will be released the morning of Thursday 10/17
  • There will be YEAH Hours for Homework 4 on Thursday 10/17 at 4:30pm in Hewlett 201 led by Butch
Homework 3 Released

We have just posted HW3, Sand. Check out Part 1: String Warmups and Part 2: Sand handouts. HW3 will be due Wednesday, October 16th at 11:55pm.

One of our section leaders, Butch, is hosting (optional) YEAH hours for this assignment on 10/10 at 4:30pm in Hewlett 201.

Week 3 Announcements
  • If you have an OAE letter, please send it to Ngoc by the end of week 3!
  • If you have a Midterm conflict on the evening on Monday, October 28th, let Ngoc know by the end of week 3!
  • Homework 3 will be released the morning of Thursday 10/9
  • There will be YEAH Hours for Homework 3 on Thursday 10/9 at 4:30pm in Hewlett 201 led by Butch
  • Please make sure you are enrolled and attending a section on Paperless! Sections are not optional
Homework 2 and Installing PyCharm

We have just posted all parts of HW2: Part A, Part B, and Part C. All parts of the assignment are due Wednesday, October 9th at 11:55pm PT. We've uploaded a video on Canvas under "Files" that you'll need to watch before completing the ethics portion of Part C.

We will be using PyCharm for the rest of our assignments starting with Homework 2 Part B, so you will need to follow the Installing Python and PyCharm Guide before you are able to work on the rest of the homework.

Ngoc will be offering PyCharm installation help on Monday after class.

October 4th Announcement
  • Parts B and C of HW 2 are released! They are both now listed in the Assignments tab
  • You will need to install Python and PyCharm for HW 2. Come to Ngoc's OH 10/4 3-5:30pm if you run into issues. We will also help after lecture on Monday, 10/7
  • Take your bluescreen picture after class or in the hall by Durand 311!
  • If you can no longer make your section or forgot to sign up can join any section that has space open using the Section Management Portal. If for certain weeks you cannot make your section, you can attend a different section to make it up
Homework 2, Part A

We have just posted Homework 2 Part A, which you will complete on the experimental server. The remainder of the assignment will be posted here on Friday. All parts of the assignment are due Wednesday, October 9th at 11:55pm PT.

Please check out the PyCharm installation handout under the "Handouts" section of the website. We will be using PyCharm for the rest of our assignments starting with Homework 2 Part B, so you will need to follow these steps before you are able to work on the next parts of Homework 2.

Week 2 Announcements
  • Section assignments have been released, and section starts this week!
  • One of our section leaders, Butch, will be hosting YEAH (Your Early Assignment Help) Hours starting this week! Each week in YEAH Hours, Butch will walk through the assignment instructions and talk about common bugs. This week, we will be meeting on Thursday, 10/3 at 4:30pm in building 420-041.
  • Ngoc will be hosting OH/PyCharm installation help hours on Friday from 3-5:30pm in Durand 303. If you run into any issues while installing Python and PyCharm, or have any questions about setting up this software, please stop by!
Assignment Help Resources

Now that Assignment 1 is underway, you might be looking for places to ask homework questions!

LaIR starts this Sunday night. LaIR is an assignment help resource that allows students to ask debugging or conceptual questions to a section leader one-on-one. LaIR is open school nights, Sun-Thurs from 7-11pm PT in Durand.

For more information, and to sign up for LaIR, check out the LaIR Info Page. Note that LaIR is in person, but please email Ngoc if you've got special circumstances that prevent you from attending in person.

Nick and Ngoc also hold office hours each week. The time and location of these hours is on the left side of the course page. You can bring all kinds of questions, including homework questions, to these hours.

Read more about our help resources.

Gaieties and Bit Part B
  • Part B of Homework 1: Bit will be live at the start of class! Reload the Homework 1 page.
  • Friday night is last night to audition for Gaieties!
Section Signups Coming Soon!

Discussion section signups will open Thursday, September 26th at 5pm PT at this signup link and will close Sunday, September 29th at 5pm PT.
Section signups are NOT first come, first serve - just be sure to fill out the form before it closes. Discussion sections are mandatory.

Even if you signed up for a discussion section on Axess, you will need to sign up for a weekly discussion section through our section management mechanism. You can completely ignore the Axess sections.

Week 1 Announcements
  • Weekly discussion sections will start during Week 2. We will open section signups later this week - look out for more information on the course page on Thursday.

    Even if you signed up for a discussion section on Axess, you will need to sign up for a weekly discussion section through our section management mechanism. You can completely ignore the Axess sections.

  • We've just released Homework 1: Bit! It is due next Wednesday, October 2nd at 11:55pm.
  • If you're interested in a fun supplement to CS106A, feel free to check out the Bit by Bit educational CS comic book at the Stanford bookstore!
Welcome Survey

We invite you to take the Welcome Survey so that we can get to know you all better!

Apply to CS106A ACE

CS106A offers extensive resources and support for students, but if you are interested in an additional weekly section, consider applying for ACE. CS100A, also known as CS106A ACE, is a 1-unit supplementary section designed to build a stronger foundation in computer science. The section will take place Thursdays from 4:30-6:20pm in building 300, room 303. PLEASE NOTE: ACE does not replace your mandatory CS106A section.

If you are taking CS106A this quarter and feel you would benefit from extra practice in addition to your mandatory CS106A section, consider applying for CS100A. Applications close Saturday, September 27 at 5 pm.

You can access the application here. If you have any questions about CS106A ACE, feel free to reach out to Abena Ofosu, the CS106A ACE instructor.

ACE is one of the School of Engineering’s Equity and Inclusion initiatives. We want to provide this opportunity for students who come from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds or for anyone who feels they might need additional support in order to succeed. Unfortunately, we must limit enrollment to enable small classes that allow students to have one-on-one interactions with the TA.

Lecture Recordings

Lecture recordings can be found by clicking on "Canvas Lecture Videos" in the Resources section on the right-hand side of the website.

Welcome!

Welcome to CS106A! We can't wait to teach you all and are looking forward to a fun quarter! Our first class meeting is on Monday, September 23rd at 1:30pm in Hewlett Teaching Center Room 200. Check out our Syllabus here! You should also check out our Experimental Server, and go ahead and click through the auth now.



Teaching Team

Nick Parlante
nick parlante headshot
Lecturer
nick.parlante@cs
Tue 3:30-5pm, Wed 3-5pm in Durand 311 or picnic tables outside Durand, Zoom
Ngoc Nguyen
ngoc nguyen headshot
Head TA
ngocng@
Thu 10:30-12pm, Fri 3-4:30pm in Durand 303

Where is Durand?

exterior of Durand building

Resources


Announcements

Homework 4 Released

We have just posted HW4, Cryptography. Like HW2, this assignment has an ethics portion that you should submit along with your code.

Week 4 Announcements
  • Our Midterm will be 10/28 at 7 pm. If you have a Midterm conflict, let Ngoc know!
  • Homework 4 will be released the morning of Thursday 10/17
  • There will be YEAH Hours for Homework 4 on Thursday 10/17 at 4:30pm in Hewlett 201 led by Butch
Homework 3 Released

We have just posted HW3, Sand. Check out the HW3 assignment handout. HW3 will be due Wednesday, October 16th at 11:55pm.

One of our section leaders, Butch, is hosting (optional) YEAH hours for this assignment on 10/10 at 4:30pm in Hewlett 201.

Week 3 Announcements
  • If you have an OAE letter, please send it to Ngoc by the end of week 3!
  • If you have a Midterm conflict on the evening on Monday, October 28th, let Ngoc know by the end of week 3!
  • Homework 3 will be released the morning of Thursday 10/9
  • There will be YEAH Hours for Homework 3 on Thursday 10/9 at 4:30pm in Hewlett 201 led by Butch
  • Please make sure you are enrolled and attending a section on Paperless! Sections are not optional
Homework 2 and Installing PyCharm

We have just posted all parts of HW2: Part A, Part B, and Part C. All parts of the assignment are due Wednesday, October 9th at 11:55pm PT. We've uploaded a video on Canvas under "Files" that you'll need to watch before completing the ethics portion of Part C.

We will be using PyCharm for the rest of our assignments starting with Homework 2 Part B, so you will need to follow the Installing Python and PyCharm Guide before you are able to work on the rest of the homework.

Ngoc will be offering PyCharm installation help on Monday after class.

October 4th Announcement
  • Parts B and C of HW 2 are released! They are both now listed in the Assignments tab
  • You will need to install Python and PyCharm for HW 2. Come to Ngoc's OH 10/4 3-5:30pm if you run into issues. We will also help after lecture on Monday, 10/7
  • Take your bluescreen picture after class or in the hall by Durand 311!
  • If you can no longer make your section or forgot to sign up can join any section that has space open using the Section Management Portal. If for certain weeks you cannot make your section, you can attend a different section to make it up
Homework 2, Part A

We have just posted Homework 2 Part A, which you will complete on the experimental server. The remainder of the assignment will be posted here on Friday. All parts of the assignment are due October 9th at 11:55pm PT.

Please check out the PyCharm installation handout under the "Handouts" section of the website. We will be using PyCharm for the rest of our assignments starting with Homework 2 Part B, so you will need to follow these steps before you are able to work on the next parts of Homework 2.

Week 2 Announcements
  • Section assignments have been released, and section starts this week!
  • One of our section leaders, Butch, will be hosting YEAH (Your Early Assignment Help) Hours starting this week! Each week in YEAH Hours, Butch will walk through the assignment instructions and talk about common bugs. This week, we will be meeting on Thursday, 10/3 at 4:30pm in building 420-041.
  • Ngoc will be hosting OH/PyCharm installation help hours on Friday from 3-5:30pm in Durand 303. If you run into any issues while installing Python and PyCharm, or have any questions about setting up this software, please stop by!
Assignment Help Resources

Now that Assignment 1 is underway, you might be looking for places to ask homework questions!

LaIR starts this Sunday night. LaIR is an assignment help resource that allows students to ask debugging or conceptual questions to a section leader one-on-one. LaIR is open school nights, Sun-Thurs from 7-11pm PT in Durand.

For more information, and to sign up for LaIR, check out the LaIR Info Page. Note that LaIR is in person, but please email Ngoc if you've got special circumstances that prevent you from attending in person.

Nick and Ngoc also hold office hours each week. The time and location of these hours is on the left side of the course page. You can bring all kinds of questions, including homework questions, to these hours.

Read more about our help resources.

Gaieties and Bit Part B
  • Part B of Homework 1: Bit will be live at the start of class! Reload the Homework 1 page.
  • Friday night is last night to audition for Gaieties!
Section Signups Coming Soon!

Discussion section signups will open Thursday, September 26th at 5pm PT at this signup link and will close Sunday, September 29th at 5pm PT.
Section signups are NOT first come, first serve - just be sure to fill out the form before it closes. Discussion sections are mandatory.

Even if you signed up for a discussion section on Axess, you will need to sign up for a weekly discussion section through our section management mechanism. You can completely ignore the Axess sections.

Week 1 Announcements
  • Weekly discussion sections will start during Week 2. We will open section signups later this week - look out for more information on the course page on Thursday.

    Even if you signed up for a discussion section on Axess, you will need to sign up for a weekly discussion section through our section management mechanism. You can completely ignore the Axess sections.

  • We've just released Homework 1: Bit! It is due next Wednesday, October 2nd at 11:55pm.
  • If you're interested in a fun supplement to CS106A, feel free to check out the Bit by Bit educational CS comic book at the Stanford bookstore!
Welcome Survey

We invite you to take the Welcome Survey so that we can get to know you all better!

Apply to CS106A ACE

CS106A offers extensive resources and support for students, but if you are interested in an additional weekly section, consider applying for ACE. CS100A, also known as CS106A ACE, is a 1-unit supplementary section designed to build a stronger foundation in computer science. The section will take place Thursdays from 4:30-6:20pm in building 300, room 303. PLEASE NOTE: ACE does not replace your mandatory CS106A section.

If you are taking CS106A this quarter and feel you would benefit from extra practice in addition to your mandatory CS106A section, consider applying for CS100A. Applications close Saturday, September 27 at 5 pm.

You can access the application here. If you have any questions about CS106A ACE, feel free to reach out to Abena Ofosu, the CS106A ACE instructor.

ACE is one of the School of Engineering’s Equity and Inclusion initiatives. We want to provide this opportunity for students who come from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds or for anyone who feels they might need additional support in order to succeed. Unfortunately, we must limit enrollment to enable small classes that allow students to have one-on-one interactions with the TA.

Lecture Recordings

Lecture recordings can be found by clicking on "Canvas Lecture Videos" in the Resources section on the right-hand side of the website.

Welcome!

Welcome to CS106A! We can't wait to teach you all and are looking forward to a fun quarter! Our first class meeting is on Monday, September 23rd at 1:30pm in Hewlett Teaching Center Room 200. Check out our Syllabus here! You should also check out our Experimental Server, and go ahead and click through the auth now.


Course Values

Everyone is welcome. Be kind. Be humane. Meet someone new. Learn by doing. Adapt to new contexts.