Gordon S. Novak Jr.: Messages from Students
From a.s.demel@mail.utexas.edu Sat Feb 17 13:59:55 1996
Dear Dr. Novak,
This is to let you know that we appreceiate the "extra" work you "made"
us do last semester in 304P. We handed in our first assignment in 315 few
days back, and found it fairly easy, eventhough we had to "update" our
knowledge of Pascal. In fact, I think we did a far better job than most of
the regular 304P students, assuming from the "ha-ho" they made in the
class, thanks to the additional understanding of the material we had from
you.
It's kind of sad that after jump start in 304P there's nothing much to
follow on. This is also written to request you to encourage the department
to hold such classes in other "basic" courses. But most importantly this
is to say, "Thank You !", to a dedicated teacher.
sincerely,
Asanka.
From sung.choe@inet.com Wed May 23 16:41:45 2001
Dear Professor Novak.
Hi, How have you been? This is Sung who took your compiler course in
summer 2000. I just want to say Hi to you.
I got a job at Inet Technology for the compiler of the proprietary
language in January 2001. Your class was very good and made me be
interested in compilers. I thought compilers must be difficult and
complicated. However, your knowledge, course curriculum and teaching
skill were so excellent that they captured my interest.
Plus, there were some opportunities which has come close to me for
compilers.
The work I am responsible for reminded me of your class. That is why I
am writing to you. I appreciate your course and you.
I hope you are doing good and you will do great.
Thank you Professor Novak.
Sincerely Sung.
From clong@cs.utexas.edu Sun Aug 17 21:30:57 1997
Hi, Prof Novak:
This is Long Cheng. I am your student in cs375. I didnt get my
last programming assignment back at the end of final exam. I checked
with Eugene, and he did reveive the electronic copy of my last assignment.
He graded it right away, and I got an A. I am writing this message to
remind you updating my grade. By the way, when and where can I pick up
my final exam paper?
Thank you very much for offering us such a wonderful course. I really
enjoy your lecture, though the assignment load is so heavy.
Long Cheng
From chris-hansen@mail.utexas.edu Fri Dec 19 18:02:59 1997
Hi Dr. Novak. I was wondering if I could look at my Final Exam
for CS307. Bogo said you had to keep them but we might get to
look them over in your office. Would that be possible, or should
I wait until Spg. and come to your office hours?
Thanks.
-Chris H.
p.s. I really got a lot out of your class. It was one of the more
challenging classes I've taken. I lost some sleep and a
few fist-fulls of hair, but I gained a lot. Thank you. :^)
From HVADLAMU@us.oracle.com Mon Feb 3 16:51:26 1997
Hi Dr. Novak
I am not sure if you remember me but I took your compilers class last
summer and also you had given me a recommendation for a job. Anyway i just
wanted to inform you that I joined Oracle in the Manufacturing Applications
Group. I apologize for the delay in informing you.
You were an excellent teacher and it was one of those occasions where I felt
no pain in working hard since i really enjoyed doing it. That course was
also very helpful in my database system implementation class.
Though my present work doesnt involve any of those things i am sure that they
will help me in the future.
Also thanks a lot for your promptness in giving me a recommendation. I got a
job with that company also(I2 Technologies) but decided to join Oracle.
Thanks
Harsha Vadlamudi
From davidlin@cs.utexas.edu Sun May 25 15:59:53 1997
Dr. Novak,
I just want to say " Thank You" for teaching us CS375 this semester. You
are one of the best professor that I have ever had.
I decided to work for Oracle after I graduate in August. Taking this
compilers course with you really helps me to get this job.
Thanks again and have a great summer!
-David Cheng-Fang Lin
From wahl@cs.utexas.edu Tue Aug 22 09:14:02 2000
Dear Dr. Novak,
I wanted to make a comment on the CS375 class "in person", rather than only
through the teacher evaluation.
This was perhaps the class in which I learned most, out of all my previous
CS courses, taken here or in Germany. The learning benefit came across in
more different areas than I had expected: of course, compilers, but also
programming languages, language design, assembler programming, even a
little refresh in theory (formal languages). Further, the extensive
programming was a more than welcome excercise. Along with your teaching,
this made it one of the most rewarding classes I ever had.
What I would criticize is that the huge amount of programming in little
time may cause quality to suffer too much. I understand that you, for
example, reduced the expectations in terms of optimization in the last
assignment, but it still seemed much to me.
Will we have a chance to take a look at the exam some time after you graded
it?
Also, I unfortunately failed to put down the talk data that you wrote down
on the board yesterday. Could you send them to me or give me a link?
Thank you very much, including for the course.
Regards,
Thomas
From akkartik@cs.utexas.edu Fri Dec 3 16:55:01 1999
Dear Dr. Novak,
In addition to the formal feedback, I would like to say that I found your
course on AI extremely satisfying this semester. All my life in India, I
thought good teachers were a myth. Now I know better.
I am currently working in the Architecture Group with Dr. Burger and Dr.
Keckler. The plan, as of now, is to be able to synthesize AI with other
areas to aid us in understanding the immense complexity of the machines we
build. It's all very hazy right now, and I find myself reading the
literature a lot, but your course has expanded my horizons immeasurably.
Thank you.
Regards,
Kartik