CS614B is a research-oriented class, which has a different focus each time that it is offered. Students read and evaluate reseach papers, and conduct a research project. During the Spring 2014 semester, we will focus on test generation techniques, fault localization, and higher order mutation testing. Depending on the interest of the students, we may choose to spend more time on a specific topic or two. We can investigate the above topics in the domains of interest of the students (e.g., scientific computing, computational biology, high performance computing, and mobile devices).

Test generation: random testing, constraint based techniques, guided testing, test oracles.

Fault localization: Program spectra based, state based, machine learning based, data mining based and statistical techniques.

Higher order mutation: Efficient techniques for generating, compiling, and executing mutants, search-based techniques to find mutants.

The course will be run as a seminar. Students will present research papers, and write summaries and critiques. Projects are a major component of the grade and they involve research and/or implementation along with a term paper.

The first few classes will be devoted to lectures that review background material. Student paper presentations will begin after these lectures.

You must have a Colorado State University eIdentity (eID), before you can be installed into the CS614 RamCT courseware system. The CS614 RamCT page will have all of the course notes, papers, and assignments.

All queries to the instructor should be sent by email to ghosh@cs.colostate.edu or posted on the Main discussion group.

• Required Texts: None

• Lecture slides: Slides for the introductory lectures will be posted on RamCT.

• Papers: PDFs or links to the papers will be available in RamCT.

Here are the formally graded elements of the course and associated weighting:

Final letter grades will be based on the relative distribution of total scores and not on any preset numerical grade.

Students are expected to read papers before coming to class. They should write a 3/4-page summary for every paper and include a list of 2-3 questions to get full credit. This summary should include information that cannot be obtained just from the abstract or the concluding section of the paper. This summary must be turned in at the beginning of every class.

Students will write two critiques during the semester. The first one will be for any paper that was discussed in class before February 28. The second one will take the form of a creative survey using three related papers that were presented in class.

Several papers will be made available on RamCT. These papers will be selected from top journals and conferences. The papers will be discussed in class and a student will lead the discussion. Other students must also participate in the discussion. Attendance is a necessary but not sufficient condition to get participation credits for each class.

The project has four parts:

• 3% Proposal writeup (Mar 10)
• 3% Proposal presentation (same week)
• 40% Term paper (last week of classes)
• 4% Project presentation (last week of classes and finals week)

• You are responsible for any announcements made in class and on RamCT.
• Late work will not be accepted without prior permission.
• Extensions may be granted when permission is sought in advance for reasons that are unexpected and beyond your control.

All students are expected to conduct themselves professionally. The instructor assumes that you are familiar with the policies in the student information sheet for the department and the department conduct code. Additionally, you are computing professionals. You should be familiar with the code of conduct for the primary professional society, ACM. You can read the ACM Code of Conduct HERE.

This course will adhere to the CSU Academic Integrity Policy as found in the General Catalog and the Student Conduct Code. At a minimum, violations will result in a grading penalty in this course and a report to the Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct Services.

All work must be done individually unless the instructor explicitly states that it is supposed to be based on team effort. Students not already familiar with the CSU Honor Pledge should review this clear and simple pledge and always adhere to it. Academic dishonesty will be dealt with severely. The first instance of cheating will result in negative credit. The second instance will result in a failing grade and other penalties dictated by departmental and university policies.

We work to maintain an environment supportive of learning in the classroom and laboratory. Towards that end, we require that you be courteous to and respectful of your fellow participants (i.e., classmates, instructors, GTAs and any tutors). In particular:

• Please turn off the ring on your cell phone. If you are expecting an emergency call, sit near the door and slide out discretely to take it.
• In class use of electronic devices in general, and laptops specifically, is permitted as a courtesy so that you may better participate and learn. If at any time the instructor judges that an electronic device is becoming a distraction the student may be asked to to turn it off and put it away.

We require you to follow the guidelines listed below for postings on RamCT:

• Be professional.
• Be courteous.
• Do not post any questions about your grade or any grading issues. Such questions are private communication and must be emailed.
• Do not post any opinions regarding your graded assignment, or any aspect of the course. You will have a chance to submit anonymous reviews at the end of the semester. Email feedback to the instructor regarding the course is acceptable and welcome.
• The instructor reserves the right to delete postings that do not promote a conducive learning experience for students in the class.