CIS 481: Parallel & Distributed Software Systems, Spring 2026

Home Lectures Assignments Links Announcements

Lectures (tentative schedule - last updated 01/21/2026)

Week	Lecture	Date	Topic	Reading	Homeworks etc.
1	1	01/27	Introduction to multithreaded, parallel and distributed systems; Atomic action	Chap. 1.1-1.4, 1.9, 2.1	Threads examples: 1 , 2 , 3
1	2	01/29		Chap. 1.1-1.4, 1.9, 2.1	Threads examples: 1 , 2 , 3
2	3	02/03	Program state & program history; Safety and liveness properties	Chap. 2.2-2.5	02/02 (Mon): Last Day to Add, Drop, or Audit The MPD Language, Parallel Algol
2	4	02/05		Chap. 2.2-2.5
3	5	02/10	The at-most-once property; The await statement	Chap. 2.2-2.5	Further reading: JML, Proving Program Correctness 02/10: Homework #1 ???
3	6	02/12	The at-most-once property; The await statement	Chap. 2.2-2.5
4	7	02/17	Follow Monday's schedule: No Class	Chap. 2.8, 3.1-3.2	02/17: Homework #1 Due ??? In-class exercise: scheduling policy 02/19: Homework #2 ???
4	8	02/19	Scheduling policies and fairness; the critical section problem	Chap. 2.8, 3.1-3.2
5	--	02/24	The critical section problem, coarse-grained solution vs. fine-grained solution; Spin lock solution	Chap. 3.2-3.3
5	9	02/26		Chap. 3.2-3.3
6	10	03/03	Fine-grained solutiuons to the CS problem; Fair solutions (Tie-breaker algorithm, Ticket algorithm)	Academic Calendar	03/03: Last day to file Pass/Fail 02/26: Homework #2 Due ???
6	11	03/05	Barrier synchronization; Data parallel algorithm	Chap. 3.4, 3.5.1
7	12	03/10	Review for midterm exam (Chap. 1-3)
7	--	03/12	Midterm exam (in class)
8	--	03/16	Spring Vacation		03/13: Spring recess begins (after last class or lab)
9	13	03/24	Midterm exam questions; Semaphores and examples; Udding's starvation-free algorithm; Semaphore; Java Semaphore class	Chap. 4.1	Semaphore in Java, POSIX
9	14	03/26		Chap. 4.1	Semaphore in Java, POSIX
10	15	03/31	Split binary semaphore; Bounded buffer example; Readers/Writers problem; Passing the baton technique	Chap. 4.2-4.5	Example: Reader/Writer Problem 04/02: Homework #3 (???)
10	16	04/02		Chap. 4.2-4.5	Example: Reader/Writer Problem 04/02: Homework #3 (???)
11	17	04/07	Concept of monitors and examples; SW and SC semantics; Semaphore vs. monitor	Chap. 5.1	04/06: Registration for Fall 2026 begins Monitor Example: Readers/Writers Tutorial: Synchronized Methods 04/09: Homework #3 Due (???)
11	18	04/09		Chap. 5.1
12	19	04/14	More monitor examples, Priority wait, Java synchronized methods	Chap. 5.2, 7.1-7.2	04/07: Registration for Fall 2025 begins 04/16: Homework #4 (???) 04/17 (Fri): Last day to Withdraw from a class
12	20	04/16	Distributed programming; Asynchronous message passing vs. synchronous message passing	Chap. 5.2, 7.1-7.2
13	21	04/21	Convert a monitor into a server process; CSP programming notations	Chap. 7.3, 7.5, 7.6	04/23: Homework #4 Due (???) Example: Convert a monitor into a server process
13	22	04/23		Chap. 7.3, 7.5, 7.6
14	23	04/28	CSP programming notations; CSP examples	Chap. 7.6, 7.7; Chap. 8.1-8.2, 8.5; Handout	04/28: Homework #5 (???) Further reading: CSP (Hoare), Linda (Carriero), C-Linda, JavaSpaces, LAM/MPI
14	24	04/30	Linda and tuple space; Remote procedure call (RPC) and Java RMI	Chap. 7.6, 7.7; Chap. 8.1-8.2, 8.5; Handout
15 & 16	25	05/05	Review for final exam (comprehensive); Discussions on Homework #3 and #4		Single Lane Bridge Demo A Simple RMI Example BBS Example Using RMI 05/05: Last day of Spring classes
15 & 16	--	05/12	Final exam: Tuesday, May 12, 8:00am - 11:00am, DION 116*		05/06: Study Day 05/07: Final exams begin 05/13: Final exams end 05/16: Final Grade Due

*Please refer to final exam schedule at: http://www.umassd.edu/registrar/finalexams/

Comments