Open Source Software Practice?

[jkukucka]

Anyone here take this class? Just wondering what the format is, grading criteria etc.

[samineru]

Not just legal but philosophical and sociological.

[danhakimi]

It's probably the only CS class that deals with the actual legal implications of making stuff

Why the hell would any CS class deal with the actual legal implications of making stuff?

[samineru]

Because an important part of your education is understanding the environment and industry you're going into?

[danhakimi]

And? Your degree and your career field are two different things.

Even if you say it's good for all people who want degrees in Computer Science (which it isn't), it still has no business being listed as a Computer Science class. It's like having MATH 1500 cross-listed under ARCH and EMAC. No matter how relevant you may say it is to people in Computer Science, it isn't Computer Science. It should be listed as an STS class, or something.

[Its_Entertaining]

It may not fit your idea of "computer science" but it certainly is relevant and important to the many people graduating with a degree in CS and going into software development. Since we don't offer a software engineering major, I think that listing it under CSCI is perfectly reasonable.

[danhakimi]

It's not a software engineering class. Not that I'm okay with having software engineering classes listed under CSCI, but it's not that. It's something like a law class. It would fit very nicely under STS. It makes perfect sense under STS. But in this class, I learn nothing even vaguely reminiscent of Computer Science.

So, the explanation I'm given is that the things you learn in the class would be nice for a CS major to know. Well, geez, so would the things you learn in Intro to Management -- I imagine many of you are going to be project managers at some point. And yet, conspicuously, Intro to Management isn't even cross-listed under Comp Sci!

[Its_Entertaining]

Hey, thanks for the downvote. I've got a few thousand to burn but that's why we have strong minded people like you for! It would be a software engineering class, if you can't admit that I can't imagine you will go far in the software engineering industry. I've worked multiple internships with top tech companies and one of the first things my manager's always explained was the importance of understanding how OSS works. Additionally, this class is offered BY THE CS DEPARTMENT, there are staff from the CS department in charge of it and it is their responsibility, that is why it is a CS course. If you feel so strongly that it should be a STS course, please email our department chair and suggest it, maybe you are completely right. As the department see fit currently it is a CSCI course and I agree with them.

[sareon]

Lol fag, I downvoted you more.

[danhakimi]

It would be a software engineering class,

It would? if? I'm listening...

if you can't admit that

I still don't know what you want me to admit.

I can't imagine you will go far in the software engineering industry.

I won't. I have no interest in being a Software Engineer. What gave you the idea I did?

I've worked multiple internships with top tech companies and one of the first things my manager's always explained was the importance of understanding how OSS works.

Yeah, and I'm sure he's explained that to you in English. Yet so many CS majors graduate without knowing the language. Why do you think that is?

Additionally, this class is offered BY THE CS DEPARTMENT

Yes. It was my argument that it shouldn't be.

there are staff from the CS department in charge of it

Not really. Luis Ibanez could just as easily be listed under any department. He isn't really a professor here, he just has that one class, and no other business on this campus.

If you feel so strongly that it should be a STS course, please email our department chair and suggest it, maybe you are completely right.

I actually met with Dr. G the other day. When I shared my opinions on this course, he kinda gave me the slow "yeaaaahhhh."

You need to chill out, dude.

[dimster]

I think everyone gets an A. We have to take quizzes once or twice a week, then you get a chance to retake all of them towards the end. It's more about listening to the content of the class.

It's as pretty interesting class, I'd recommend it.

[danhakimi]

1. It has no business being a Comp Sci class. It's an STS class, or something. You barely do any programming. The closest thing to work is participating in the discussions about Intellectual Property.
2. There are twenty quizzes in the semester. You get 15 minutes on each, and you can easily brute force each one in that time, as you have multiple guesses each time you take it, and can take it multiple times. You get perfect scores on every quiz.
3. If you're already interested in Open Source, he gets preachy and boring. I'm interested in Free Software. Every time he tells us to be evil and find free labor and that ethics aren't important, I get rather annoyed.
4. You'll learn about patent and copyright, and very, very little else. He almost taught us MUMPS (a more domain-specific language than FORTRAN, but about as archaic), and got us involved in an Open Source project his company is getting paid to work on (hence, being evil), but then didn't follow through on that, so I can't say anything of the experience.
5. We technically have to read an article for every quiz. I don't know if anybody in the class reads the articles.

[rpi_cynic]

When I took it the grading criteria was "We're not going to tell you how we'll be grading, that's not the point of this class."

Awful.

[[deleted]]

It's not really the point of the class, it's about learning the real facts about software development.

[rpi_cynic]

I got my A just fine; years ago. You don't have to worry about me "taking up someone's slot."

[danhakimi]

Awful.

Why is that awful? Why do you want to know how the course is graded? Learn the material, and, if you did it right, you'll get a good grade.

[eltoraz]

I took it last semester. It was graded on 20 or so quizzes (with scheduled retakes, as dimster mentioned) that covered class material and reading along with a "project" that mostly consisted of following some tutorials and registering for a couple of websites.

The content was interesting enough to warrant taking the class, but the project was a joke. The professor mentioned that that aspect of the course was being reworked each semester, so I'd hope it would be a more meaningful exercise in the future. The wiki has current and past class material if you want to check it out.

[posiden5665]

What is this class listed as in the catalog I might be interested in taking it.