Introduction to Client-Server Computing (CSTP 1303)

In this course students are introduced to the fundamentals of developing a distributed application system based on the client/server paradigm. Students learn how to design and implement client-server applications based on TCP/IP network protocol suite, and to use sockets in C++ programming environment to set up reliable (TCP) or unreliable (UDP) communication between two hosts.

Student learn by developing sample console, windows, or browser applications such as Chat applications, File Transfer applications, or simple role based multi-player games such as Chess. Security of the application is enforced by learning to use Secure Socket layer (SSL) or HTTPS API as secure communication protocol.

The goal in this course is to make students aware, through hands-on work, of the challenges of a networked/distributed application, such as performance, delays, reliability, synchronization, scalability, and security issues.