CIS 565: GPU Programming and Architecture

Fall 2016

Patrick Cozzi

University of Pennsylvania
Computer Graphics @ Penn

Description

A timely selection from the following topics:

• GPU Computing: GPU architecture, massively parallel programming, parallel algorithms, performance, mobile architecture
• Rendering: Graphics pipeline (rasterization), path tracing, deferred shading, ray marching
• APIs: CUDA, WebGL, Vulkan (Next-Generation Graphics APIs)

This is a project-intensive course with significant coding, writing, and presenting. It is more work than any other course, but it is worth it.

Prerequisites

• Passion for computer graphics.
• CIS 460/560: Introduction to Computer Graphics. Preferably received an A.
• Strong C or C++.
• Also useful:
  • CIS 371: Digital Systems Organization and Design, or
  • CIS 501: Introduction to Computer Architecture.

Schedule, Google Group, and LinkedIn

• cis565-fall-2016.github.io: GitHub repo for the class schedule, slides, and project schedule
  
• cis-565-fall-2016@googlegroups.com: google group for general and project questions
  
• LinkedIn Group for networking with current and previous course students

Instructor

Patrick Cozzi, pjcozzi+cis565@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment

Teaching Assistants

Shuai Shao (Shrek), shrekshao@gmail.com
Office: SIG Lab
Office Hours: Friday, 5-7pm

Gary Li, likang@seas.upenn.edu
Office: SIG Lab
Office Hours: Tuesday, 5-7pm

Recommended Books

• Programming Massively Parallel Processors, Second Edition, 2012, David Kirk and Wen-mei Hwu. Old draft pdfs are on the website for ECE 498 AL at UIUC.
• Real-Time Rendering, Third Edition, 2008, Tomas Akenine-Möller, Eric Haines, and Naty Hoffman.

Grading

• Projects: 50%
• Final Project: 50%

Academic Integrity

An academic integrity violation will result in the student receiving an F in this course.

See Academic Integrity at the University of Pennsylvania: A Guide for Students.

Acknowledgments

Joe Kider, Gary Katz, and Suresh Venkatasubramanian taught this course before me.

All former TAs have helped shape this course: Kai Ninomiya, Harmony Li, Liam Boone, Karl Li, Varun Sampath, and Jon McCaffrey.

Previous students have provided significant course feedback including: Xing Du, Karl Li, and Ian Lilley.

Many passionate folks in our field have also provided course input: Johan Andersson, (@repi),Quarup Barreirinhas, (@quarup), Wolfgang Engel, (@wolfgangengel), Mikkel Gjoel, (@pixelmager), Eric Haines, (@pointinpolygon), Dominik Lazarek, (@Omme), Emil Persson, (@_Humus_), and Christophe Riccio, (@g_truc).