Working Between Unix and Windows

If you plan to be a computer science major, or if you are moving from the CSC111 course to CSC112, you will need to make a transition from using your laptop to working in the Unix operating system environment.

Here's a list of the software you will probably want on your computer.

Borland C++ Builder. If you have taken or are taking CSC111, you probably already installed C++ Builder on your laptop. If you don't have it yet, ask your instructor for license permission, and you can download Builder from our installation CD.

Exceed or some other XWindows server, so that you can use XWindows-based applications that run on our Computer Science network but display on your laptop. Full instructions for installing Exceed can be found at http://www.math.wfu.edu/directions/exceed-install.html.

SSH Secure Shell Client and SSH Secure File Transfer Client.  To install both of these on your laptop, go to Start->Run and type \\acad1\csc.  A window will pop open in which you'll see the executable installation program SSHWinClient.exe.  Double click on these to install the programs.

Here's is a list of things you should know how to do on your laptop by the second or third week of the CSC112 course.

Access our Computer Science network through Secure Shell.

Move files by SSH Secure File Transfer between your laptop and your Computer Science account.

Configure your mail package to access your mail from the Computer Science mail server.

Put a .forward file in either your campus computer account our your Computer Science Department computer account so that you will only have to read your mail in one place.

Use Exceed for XWindows-based applications that run on the Computer Science network but display on your laptop.

Consider Linux

If you're Windows-averse, an alternative is to put Linux (a free version of the Unix operating system) on your laptop and avoid using the Windows operating system altogether.  The Computer Science Department will be sponsoring a Linux Day early in the semester, at which you can learn how to install Linux on your laptop.  Details later.