Tufts CS 117 (Fall 2025):
Internet-scale Distributed Systems

Assignments

Click on the link in the "Assignments" column for details of each assignment.

CS 117 Assignments
Assignment Description Dates
E-mail: Introduce yourself Send an e-mail introducing yourself Assigned: Sep 02
Due: Sep 04
Enroll in Piazza Sign up for Piazza for CS 117 Assigned: Sep 02
Due: Sep 04
Reading: Weaving the Web Read selected sections of "Weaving the Web" by Tim Berners-Lee, and answer questions Assigned: Sep 02
First Group Due: Oct 03
All Submissions Due: Nov 11
Reading: End-to-End Arguments and Internet Architecture Read:
  1. End-to-End paper
  2. Interview with Paul Baran
...and answer questions.
Assigned: Sep 04
Preliminary due: Sep 11 (4 PM)
Final due: Sep 18
Learning HTML and CSS Prepare and publish a Web page using HTML and CSS, but without using JavaScript Assigned: Sep 10
Due: Sep 18
Internet & TCP/IP Overview Readings on TCP/IP Assigned: Sep 11
Due: Sep 18 (4 PM)
No questions - reading only
Using virtual servers Make sure you can log onto COMP117-01 and COMP117-02 (see info page hints) Assigned: Sep 11
Due: Sep 18
Reading: Naming, RFCs and URIs Read articles on telephone and Web naming ...and answer questions. Assigned: Sep 18
* First set of questions preliminary submission: Sep 25 (4:30 PM)
* both sets of questions preliminary: Oct 02 (4:30 PM)
* Final submission of both sets: Oct 04
Datagram framework Modify "ping" sample and learn CS 117 framework Assigned: Sep 18
Due: Sep 27
File copy Use end-to-end w/UDP to copy files Assigned: Sep 23
End-to-end check due: Oct 05
File copy due: Oct 14
Reading: Distribution Models and HTTP Read papers on distributed systems & HTTP...and answer brief questions. Assigned: Sep 30

Readings in RFC 2616 & Fielding Thesis by: Oct 09 (4 PM)

RPC Reading &Final question submission due: Oct 16
RPC Create a Remote Procedure Call system Assigned: Oct 21
Learn code and small mods by: Nov 03
Hand built proxes by: Nov 10
Final Submission Due: Nov 26 (See suggested schedule in assignment notes
There should be time to complete all or most of this before Thanksgiving, but you may work over or after the holiday if you prefer.)
Discuss the Web's Impact
  1. Contribute to Piazza Discussion of the Web's and Internet's Impact
  2. Optional: read at least part of Steve Wolfram's What is ChatGPT Doing … and Why Does It Work?
Assigned: Oct 23
Due: Oct 30 (4 PM)

(Nothing to submit using provide. Not graded, but contributions to the Piazza discussion count as class participation.)
Reading: Postel's Law Do readings on Postel's Law Assigned: Oct 23
Due: Nov 04 (4 PM)
No questions for now...may add a few simple ones later.
Reading: From Documents to Applications Do readings on Rule of Least Power and Identifying Application State Assigned: Oct 23
Due: Nov 06 (4 PM)
There are questions to consider but you do not submit answers for grading. This material will be on the test.
Security Read and answer questions: Ken Thompson's Reflections on Trusting Trust

Read: Kobayashi Maru paper on Cheating
Assigned: Nov 04

Trusting Trust paper and initial question submission Due: 4:30 PM Nov 13 (responses to questions may be updated through Nov 15)

Kobayashi Maru paper Due: 4:30 PM Nov 18
Final Project Final Project: Paper on subject of your choice Assigned: Nov 06
Due: End of day Dec 11

Follow assignment links for details on each assignment.
Date key: Past due, Ongoing, Not assigned yet

If no time is listed, assignments are due at the end of the day (11:59PM)

Note: the instructor may or may not list here information on projects and assignments ahead of the official start date. These early listings will be highlighted like this, and the dates shown will either be in the future or To Be Determined (TBD).

There is no guarantee that such prelisted assignments won't be substantially changed, rescheduled, or even canceled entirely. You're welcome to start thinking about such future assignments if you like, but any work you do on them is at your own risk.

If an assignment is due on a religious holiday that you observe, then it will be accepted without penalty until the next non-holiday class meeting. If you need additional time for this or other personal reasons, please e-mail the instructor in advance (this will save us time grading your work as late, only to have to reset the grade later.)