The two lectures on the topic of distributed systems ("Distributed Systems 1” and "Distributed Systems 2”) teach both foundational and advanced principles that are illustrated through practical examples of existing paradigms and technologies. Principles treated in this course encompass foundations of goals and classes of distributed systems, as well as their architectures, processes, communication and name systems. Advanced principles include synchronisation, consistency and replicability, error-tolerance and security. The principles introduced in this course are exemplified through the paradigms of web-based systems and component-based systems. This includes sample implementations of individual principles. In addition, the course gives an introduction into the development of corresponding systems using actual technologies as examples.
The course provides a practical introduction to the concepts and paradigms of distributed systems using the example of web technologies and application development on the web. This initially involves an introduction of the world wide web with basic protocols such as HTTP and other standards in the context of the Internet. After that an introduction to the design and construction of web applications is provided. This includes firstly the frontend development with HTML5, CSS3 as well as client-side JavaScript and secondly the backend development with server-side JavaScript on the Node.js platform. Interactions between frontend and backend follow modern REST/HTTP and AJAX techniques. In addition, mechanisms for personalization with cookies and sessions as well as to authenticate users are presented. The course closes with a detailed discussion of web application security.
Upon completing this lecture class, students will acquire practical skills in the development and deployment of web applications, grounded in an understanding of distributed systems and web technologies. They will learn to proficiently use HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript for frontend development, alongside server-side development with Node.js, enhancing their ability to create dynamic, full-stack web applications. Additionally, students will gain knowledge in implementing modern REST/HTTP and AJAX techniques for efficient frontend-backend communication, as well as in employing cookies, sessions, and authentication strategies for personalizing user experiences and ensuring application security. This comprehensive skill set will prepare students for a wide range of roles in web development and application design, equipping them with the necessary tools to address current and future challenges in the field.
In preparation for individual lecture units, the self-study of basic content is required by means of the accompanying literature (relevant chapters will be announced in the event). Further independent work concerns the follow-up of the lecture contents and the exam preparation.
This course provides students with the theoretical and applied knowledge about the creation of media-based web applications. This includes the foundations of the markup language HTML and Cascading Style Sheets, how to embed different types of media, as well as the conception, design and programming of responsive web applications.
Lecture notes, slides (PDF), multiple examples of programs
Preparation of lecture contents and exam