CS 112
Fall 2026
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Lab 0: Preliminaries

Please complete ASAP!

  • Task 1: Review course policies
  • Task 2: Prepare to use Top Hat
  • Task 3: Install the necessary software
  • Task 4: Test your installation

This lab consists of some simple tasks that you should complete on your own as soon as possible.

If you encounter any problems while completing these tasks, please post your question to Piazza, our class discussion site. The link to our Piazza course page is available in this site’s navigation bar.

Task 1: Review course policies

As your first task, please review the policies of the course, which can be found in the syllabus and using the links in the navigation bar. In particular, please review carefully the policies on collaboration and academic misconduct for this course. Note that under some circumstances collaboration between students is encouraged, but there are important limitations to the extent to which you may do so. Read over these policies and ensure that you understand to what degree you may work with others. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions.

Task 2: Prepare to use Top Hat

We’ll be using Top Hat for in-lecture exercises.

Top Hat requires a paid subscription, and a full breakdown of the available subscription options can be found here. When deciding whether to purchase a 4-month or 12-month subscription, it’s worth noting that Top Hat has recently been used in CS 131 and CS 330, but we can’t say for sure whether it will be used in future offerings of those courses.

You just need Top Hat. You do not need any add-ons..

For more information, consult the Top Hat Quick Start Guide.

Should you require assistance with Top Hat at any time, please contact their support team directly by email (support@tophat.com), the in-app support button, or phone (1-888-663-5491).

Task 3: Install the necessary software

In your work for this course, you’ll need to have access to a number of programming tools.

The steps needed to obtain and install these tools depend on the operating system that you’re using. Select the appropriate link below:

  • macOS users
  • Windows users

Task 4: Test your installation

Once you have successfully downloaded the necessary software, have some fun writing your first Java program.

Last updated on September 7, 2026.