CS250:
Foundations of Computer Systems

[Schedule]

[Assignments]

The true voyage of discovery consists not of going to new places, but of having a new pair of eyes.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)

Spring 2026
CS250 covers foundational aspects of computer systems encompassing processors, networks, storage, and computing frameworks. A holistic understanding these constructs is key to designing systems (AI, Big Data, clouds, and security) that scale by surfacing problems and solutions from different vantage points. The course includes a discussion of processors, cores, and co-processors (GPUs). Speed differentials across the memory hierarchy and the implications of caching will be covered as well. The discussion of the memory subsystem is complemented with the design of data structures for storage systems. Core foundations of networking including the design of the key elements of the networking stack (IP, TCP, and UDP) will be covered alongside a discussion of DNS. The course also explores characteristics of I/O systems with an emphasis on on-disk data structures that facilitate effective data retrievals. Finally, the course ends with a future gazing component that explores new, promising systems on the horizon with an emphasis on neuromorphic computing.

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Explain core computer systems terminology
Explain binary number representations, signed numbers, and floating-point numbers alongside conversions across numbering systems
Synthesize concepts in Boolean logic and algebra
Distill and build upon core concepts in memory management
Describe the interplay between CPU, memory, the I/O subsystem alongside the execution of programs.
Design programs that leverage networking protocols that underpin the internet including IP, TCP, and UDP.
Design and implement core data structures used for storage systems
Explain the inner workings of Graphic Processing Units (GPUs)

Extensive experimentation through programming assignments is a principal activity of this course. These assignments will focus on developing skills that are immediately transferrable to building real-world systems.

Prerequisites

CS 163 or CS 164 with a C or higher
Concurrent Enrollment in CS 165

This course can be used in lieu of CS270 for all Computer Science majors (for e.g., it will satisfy the prequiste for CS370). For ECE majors: This course may not satisfy the prerequisites for downstream ECE courses: for example, CS250 does not involve assembly programming.

Professor
Shrideep Pallickara
Office: Room 364, Computer Science
Office Hours:
4:00-5:00 pm Friday and via Zoom
E-mail: compsci_cs250 {aT} colostate.edu
(with the obvious change)
Tel: 970.492.4209

Lecture Coordinates
TTH: 3:30-4:45 pm
Eddy 212

Teaching Assistants
Office Hours in CSB 120 and Teams
E-mail: compsci_cs250{aT} colostate.edu

Graduate Teaching Assistants
Sofia Catalan

Jason Curcio

Cameron Seuss

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants
Joshua Bridgham

Benito Encarnacion

Robert O'Neil

Labs:/Recitations in CSB-225 & CSB-315

R2	Wed	10:00-10:50 AM	CSB-315
R3	Wed	11:00-11:50 AM	CSB-315
R8	Wed	12:00-12:50 PM	CSB-315
R4	Wed	1:00-1:50 PM	CSB-315
R5	Wed	2:00-2:50 PM	CSB-315
R6	Wed	3:00-3:50 PM	CSB-315

TA Office Hours
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday {Online}
Sofia Catalan	10am-11am 12pm-3pm	11am-12pm 2pm-3pm	10am-12pm 2pm-3pm	11am-12pm 2pm-3pm
Jason Curcio	11am-3pm 6pm-7pm	12pm-1:30pm 4:30pm-6pm	12pm-3pm	12:30pm-1pm
Cameron Seuss	10am-11am 12pm-1pm	12pm-1pm	10am-12pm 2pm-3pm	5pm-6pm	11am-1pm 2pm-5pm
Joshua Bridgham		12:30pm-1:45pm	11am-2:30pm	12:30pm-1:45pm		10am-1pm
Benito Encarnacion		11am-12pm 5:30pm-8:00pm	5:45pm-7:15pm	10:30am-12pm	12pm-1:30pm
Robert O'Neil	2pm-3pm	5pm-7:30pm		5pm-7:30pm		12pm-3pm
Kaden Love	5pm-8pm		5pm-8pm		5pm-8pm

CS250: Foundations of Computer Systems

*The course-logo is an image from Microsoft's Online library

CS250:
Foundations of Computer Systems

**The course-logo is an image from Microsoft's Online library*