Contact information

• Lecturer: Dave Wessels, 753-3245 ext 2436, David.Wessels@viu.ca
• Office hours (in Bldg 315, Rm 222): Wed/Fri 10-11:30
  If you need to see me outside office hours please send me an email (David.Wessels@viu.ca) or see me after class to arrange a suitable time.

Resources

• Textbook: none (see the note below on web material)
• Web material: online material on the course site may include online books and language reference material, supplementary lecture notes, assignments, sample programs, practice problems, etc, accessible through http://csci.viu.ca/~wesselsd/courses/csci485/

Timetable

• Lecture: Wed/Fri 11:30-1; Bldg 200 Rm 105
• Labs: Fri 1:30-2:30, 3:30-4:30; Bldg 315 Rm 115

Assessment will consist of a mix of exams, labs, and assignments, each of which may have both theoretical and applied components.

• 30% Labs and assignments
• 20% Midterm
• 15% Research project/paper
• 35% Final exam

The Course Topics planned are shown below, although both the content and the order will likely vary considerably as the semester progresses.

Introduction to metaprogramming

An overview of the compile-time and run-time uses of metaprogramming

Compile-time metaprogramming

Compilers, assemblers, interpretters, translators

Macros, pre-processors, and dsl

Annotations: metadata uses at compile time

Code generation: IDEs, tools, templates

Translation tools/aids: lexx, yacc, bison

Run-time code generation and higher-order functions

Metaprogramming in debuggers and profilers

Annotations: metadata uses at run time

Reflection: program "self awareness"

Code as data - higher order functions

Self modifying code

Use in obfuscation: preventing reverse engineering

Use in viruses: hijacking control, evading detection

Use in applications: memory and run-time efficiency
  - overwriting machine code in memory
  - altering jump locations (in registers or on the stack)
  - altering function pointers (as data)
  - run-time interaction with caches and pipelined instructions

Architectures and languages supporting self-modifying code

Metaprogramming in specific languages

The course will focus on lisp, ruby, and C++ for practical code examples, but may also investigate metaprogramming in languages such as C, Java, Javascript, Python, R, and Smalltalk

Application case studies

Graphics/animation: shader generation

Research project/presentation:
Each student will be required to complete a short (1500-2500 word) individual research project and presentation on a metaprogramming topic. Details and project ideas will be discussed in class.

Appeals of Grades:
Any exercise or examination grade may be appealed. However, the appeal must be made to the instructor, in writing and attached to the work in question, and within 7 days of the grade being made available to the class. The instructor reserves the right to re-grade the entire piece of work submitted on appeal, not necessarily just the component that the student believes is in error.

Grade Conversion: will be based on the standard VIU grading scale:

90-100	85-<90	80-<85	76-<80	72-<76	68-<72	64-<68	60-<64	55-<60	50-<55	< 50
A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D	F

Lab and Computer Usage Rules:
See http://www.viu.ca/computerscience/resources.asp#Lab_and_Computer_Usage_Rules

Student Academic Code of Conduct (VIU policy 96.01)
All VIU students are required to familiarize themselves with, and adhere to, the Student Academic Code of Conduct.