This course is currently between semesters— the information on this website is presented for informational purposes only; material is subject to revisions before the course begins.
CSCI E-15 Web Programming with PHP

Software

Services

Github: Every student is required to have a Github account. Because Github is free to use for public repositories (which we’ll use in this course) there is no need to have a paid Github plan if you don’t already have one.

Servers: You will be required to set up a virtual private server for hosting/sharing your work via DigitalOcean, using their base plan of $6/mo (i.e. $24 for the semester). I will cover instructions for setting this up at the beginning of the semester.

If you’re new to DigitalOcean, you can sign up using my referral link and get $100 in credits over 60 days (i.e. it’ll pay for your first half of the semester).

If you are unable to afford the above costs, send me an email and I will set up a server for you using the credits earned from past students using the above referral link.

Operating Systems

At the start of the semester, we will go through the steps of setting up our development environments. This instruction varies based on the operating system you’re using, and my notes/material primarily covers procedures for Mac and Windows.

I have started to incorporate instructions for Linux Ubuntu, but this material is “in beta” and you may be required to do some independent legwork to get things set up on your Linux machine.

Administrative Privileges

Because we work with a lot of different software packages in this course, it is expected that you will be able to work on a machine where you have Administrative Privileges. Given this requirement, you will be unable to complete this course using lab or other public computers.

Other...

At the start of the semester I will go over instructions for all other software and services you will need to use in this course.

It is strongly recommended that you use the software and services that I present, as that’s what the lectures/notes will pull from. If you go “of course” you do so at your own risk.

It would be to your advantage to stick with my suggestions as that’s what the lectures/notes will pull from. Furthermore, my suggestions have been tested to make sure they accommodate all the goals we have in this course. I’d like to avoid situations where students start off with software that works for tasks in Week 1 and 2, only to find out that something you need to accomplish in Week 8 can’t be done.

Instructions for different platforms can vary greatly, and it is impossible to support all options. By sticking with set recommendations, I can provide more cohesive instruction and most efficiently help everyone.