CS Server Guide

CS servers are department-managed systems that students can use for programming, coursework, file management, remote access, and technical document preparation. They help students work in a more consistent environment for CS classes.

What students can do

  • Log in remotely from a laptop
  • Navigate folders and files
  • Edit source code
  • Compile and run programs
  • Use terminal-based tools
  • Create LaTeX documents and PDFs

Why this is useful

  • Course tools may already be available
  • Students can work in a Linux-based environment
  • Assignments can be tested in a consistent setup
  • Remote access makes it possible to work from anywhere
  • Students gain experience with technical workflows

How to Log In

Students typically connect to the CS server through a terminal using SSH. 

ssh your_username@cs.umb.edu

Basic Terminal Commands

These are some common commands students may use on the CS server.

pwd

Shows your current location on the server.

pwd

ls

Lists the files and folders in your current directory.

ls

cd

Moves you between folders.

cd foldername
cd ..

mkdir

Creates a new folder.

mkdir project

nano

Opens a file for editing in the terminal.

nano file.c

cat

Displays the contents of a file.

cat file.txt

Programming Examples

C Program

Compile and run a simple C program.

gcc program.c -o program
./program

Java Program

Compile and run a Java file.

javac Hello.java
java Hello

Python Program

Run a Python script.

python3 script.py

Git and GitHub

Students may also use GitHub with the server to download projects, track changes, and upload updates. 

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/repository.git
cd repository
git add .
git commit -m "updated files"
git push

LaTeX and PDF Workflow

Students can use the CS server to create technical documents and compile them into PDFs. 

pdflatex report.tex

Simple Student Workflow

  1. Log in to the server
  2. Use pwd to check your location
  3. Use ls to view files
  4. Use cd to move to the correct folder
  5. Edit a file with nano
  6. Compile or run your program
  7. Review output and make changes if needed