GW SHC is a student group focusing on systems design and implementation.
Examples of projects the SHC might work on
- Linux kernel hacking.
- Hacking the
Compositecomponent-based OS, a GW-native research kernel. - Writing an OS in Rust, or learning more about the new breed of systems programming languages.
- Writing threading libraries, and reading/modifying language runtimes.
- Hacking on embedded systems in including Arduinos, Galileos, and iRobot Creates.
- Writing massively parallel code on our servers.
If you're interested in a project, please add an appropriate page to the Wiki for this github repo. We'll create a mailing list soon for coordination. See members.md for a list of current and past members, and the schedule page in the wiki for our schedule.
Please use the mailing list at [email protected], and post any updates to this repository.
Are you interested in
- low-level system programming?
- embedded system development?
- kernel and OS hacking?
Are you willing to put some time into deepening your understanding of these topics? Are you comfortable pushing yourself, and learning on your own?
Do you want to be part of a community of like-minded students?
Do you believe that systems can be better? That they can be more capable?
Yes? SHC is for you.
No. You will need to learn low-level languages such as C, but that can be learned in the club.
If you don't know C, and want to learn, a great place to start is Nick Parlante's material. Start with "Essential C", and move on to "Pointers and Memory" and "Lists and Trees".
We will talk about and hack on cutting-edge research. However, it is not necessary that you do as well. This club is an opportunity to hack on systems, and if you're interested in the associated research, it is a great opportunity to learn.
Prof. Parmer is one of the systems professors at GWU. His research revolves around the Composite component-based operating system. He helps in the organization of the club, but the goal is for it to be student run, and student organized.
B&BH is focused on system security. Therefore, there is a fair amount of overlap between the clubs. SHC is more focused on system implementation and development, while B&BH is focused on penetration testing, compromises, and other issues centered around security.
The focus of the TC is on embedded systems, and technology. It is a great group for those wanting to stay on the cutting edge of technology (e.g. 3d printing, embedded systems), and work on projects with others. The SHC focuses on making highly-productive low-level system hackers.
No. This club has nothing to do with system compromises, and the pejorative use of the term "hack". Hacking is the application of a deep understanding of a system to some, often very clever, end. Hackers often have a fundamental curiousity of how systems work, and enjoy applying their ingenuity to make them do amazing things. If this is unclear, please google the difference between Hackers and Crackers.