Computer Networks Computer networks have had a profound impact on modern society. This course will investigate how computer networks are designed and how they work. Examples from the Internet as well as our own campus network will be discussed.

Crash Course in Systems Security In this course students will learn the theory and practice of computer systems security.  Morning lectures will be complemented by afternoon lab-sessions in which, under the close guidance of the instructor, students will complete both individual and group projects that will deepen their understanding of how (in)secure systems are implemented.  Students will learn to use industry-standard tools for performing analysis of system vulnerabilities; be introduced to the systems security research landscape; and gain an understanding of ethical, political, and financial issues surrounding systems security research.

Computer Architecture A detailed study of the hardware and software that make up a computer system. Topics include assembly language programming, digital logic design, microarchitecture, pipelines, caches, and RISC vs. CISC. The goal of the course is teaching students how computers are built, how they work at the lowest level, and how this knowledge can be used to write better programs. (CSCI 0201)

Systems Programming Students will become intimately acquainted with the low-level software services that applications often take for granted.  Through a broad, project-based survey of core system libraries and UNIX system calls, students will explore process management, memory management, linking and loading, threading, synchronization, filesystem operations, and inter-process communication (networking).  In each area, students will build software using these building blocks, gaining an understanding of the behavior and efficiency of the tools at their disposal. Students will also gain experience building larger, more complex systems upon which applications can be built.  This course is ideal for students who wish to understand and construct the software infrastructure upon which user-level software depends. (CSCI 0202) 3 hrs. lect

Advanced Operating Systems An operating system manages the complex resources of modern computers and provides an interface between the user and the hardware. In this course, we will explore the key concepts of operating systems, including process, memory, and storage management; synchronization and deadlock; protection and security; and distributed systems. (not open to students who have taken CSCI 0314) (CSCI 315)  3 hrs lect.

Peter Johnson

Reviews and ratings for Peter Johnson at Middlebury College.Peter Johnson teaches Computer Networks, Crash Course/Systems Security, Computer Architecture and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Peter Johnson good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Pete cares a lot about his students and his subject matter. His enthusiasm for the topics boosted the interest that I brought to the course initially. His question and answer style is considerate and effective.

Pete is the goat. No debate. His teaching style is the best thing I've ever seen and experienced in my entire academic journey. His lectures are top tier and he teaches you how to write clean and maintainable code. He's probably one of the smartest men I've met so far. So basically, if you take systems, take it with Pete.

I enjoyed this class a lot, because I was able to learn a lot about the lower level workings of the computer that I didn't know about before. Pete is very fair with clear expectations and gives us multiple chances to revise homework before the final deadline.