Computer Science Resources

Unix

Unix is a family of operating systems, which is the software underlying almost all the machines used by the Spelman College Computer Science department. As a student here, becoming reasonably facile with Unix should be one of your goals: it can only make your life easier to be comfortable with the tools.

Here's an Introduction to Unix and tons of other reference materials, thanks to the Geek Girl site. This looks like a terrific site; spend some time poking around!

Emacs

Emacs is an extremely popular editor, used by millions of people for dozens of years. (No kidding; it was popular and old when I started using it in 1983.)  If "vi" is the Swiss Army knife of editors, Emacs is a large truck jammed with tools, gadgets, features, games, and all sorts of stuff. I use Emacs for almost everything. You should definitely try it and see if you like it.

• Emacs comes with a built-in tutorial and manuals. Start it up with no file to edit and read the opening page:

  % xemacs &
  

  and it will tell you all about it. (Note: the percent sign in that example means that you type the xemacs command at your Unix prompt. Don't type the percent sign. Adding the ampersand (&)  at the end will give xemacs its own window, leaving your Unix shell alone.)

  Alternatively, type C-h t when you're in Emacs to get to the tutorial. The C-h means to type a "control h," which means to hold down the "control" key (at the left side of your keyboard)  while you type the "h." You release the control key when you type the "t"; otherwise, you'll have typed C-h C-t. Think of the "control" key just like the "shift" key.

• Here's a little cheat sheet I wrote, with about 100 of the most common Emacs commands (default key bindings). It's plain ASCII, suitable for printing out (it fits on one sheet), folding up and stuffing in your pocket or backpack.
• Here's a little introduction and "local guide" I wrote. It comes in several formats.
  • web page (machine-generated)
  • PostScript document.
  • LaTeX source document.

Here's a web page of Emacs reference materials , thanks again to the Geek Girl site.

LaTeX

LaTeX is a text-formatting system that is in common use in scientific writing. It is very popular among computer science and mathematics researchers, and is also used by researchers in chemistry, physics, and other disciplines. It has some advantages over alternatives such as PC word-processing applications, such as Microsoft WORD or Corel WordPerfect. Personally, I use it for anything more complex than a shopping list. Give it a try and decide for yourself.

• The following introduction to LaTeX is about 90 pages, and is available in a variety of formats.:
  • PDF This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. It's really cool for on-line reading, with clickable cross-references and such.
  • PostScript, one page per sheet This format is good if you're going to read it online or send it to a printer, since each page of text is formatted for one sheet of paper.
  • PostScript, book layout This format is good if you're going to print it double-sided, fold and staple it, to make a nice reference book.
• Eventually, you'll want to acquire a reference and tutorial book on LaTeX. I think you should start with the classic: LaTeX: A Document Preparation System by Leslie Lamport, published by Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-52983-1. Note that this is the second edition; it overlaps a lot with the first edition, which you might get cheap second-hand, but there are some differences with respect to fonts and included graphics.
• If you get pretty experienced with LaTeX and want to start customizing it, making it do tricks, and such, you'll want to get The LaTeX Companion, by Goossens, Mittelback, and Samarin, also published by Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-201-54199-8.

Common Lisp

Common Lisp is a modern, full-featured programming language, with a standard approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It is used for a variety of programming needs, and is especially favored in Artificial Intelligence.

• ANSI Common LispThis is an online reference to the Common Lisp language as precisely defined by ANSI (working group X3J13). Harlequin, Inc., a major Lisp vendor, prepared this hypertext document, based on that standard.
• ANSI Common Lisp This is a local copy of the preceding link; It's likely to be much faster to access here at Spelman, but it's missing the cool icons.