Software

This class assumes students will be using a Windows-based OS for coursework. I'm not restricting what OS you can use, (and in the past there has been few compatibility issues), but if you get stuck because of one issue, I can provide no support.

Scribing Tools

You can use either Markdown or LaTeX to type up your notes. Export to PDF before submitting.

Markdown

• Typora (Offline)

  • https://typora.io/

• Dillinger (Online)

  • https://dillinger.io/

For code use the syntax:

```js
// Beautiful Code Goes Here
•```

LaTeX

• Overleaf (Online)

  • https://www.overleaf.com/

• TeXnicCenter (Offline)

  • https://www.texniccenter.org/

Feel free to use something else

Packet Sniffer & Packet Analyzer

There are two tools needed for inspecting traffic on our network. A packet sniffer like Npcap or Libpcap that performs the actual "capturing of packets" which is what pcap is short for, and a packet analyzer software like Wireshark that displays the captured data in a nice GUI.

• Wireshark

  • https://www.wireshark.org/
  • During installation if you are using a Windows machine you may be prompted to install Npcap do so. (But be careful not to install Winpcap)
  • If using MacOS libpcap is preinstalled so you won't be prompted.
  • You may also be prompted to install USBPcap, this is used to capture traffic on your USB ports which is not relevant to us.

Sequence Diagramming Tool

• SequenceDiagram.org

  • https://sequencediagram.org
  • Later topics will require us to trace packets on a wire, a sequence diagraming tool will be required to diagram what is being transmitted and in what order.

Browser

• Firefox

  • https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

Feel free to use something else

Enhanced Terminal with SSH/SFTP Client

• MobaXterm

  • https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/download-home-edition.html

• For MacOS, Terminal should work, make sure you have netcat available

  xxxxxxxxxx
  man nc
  

JavaScript Runtime Environment

• Node.js (Use Current Version 15.7+)

  • https://nodejs.org/en/

To run your code on Windows, after installing Node.js

1. Shift + Right Click in the directory where your source code is located.

2. Open PowerShell window Here

3. Run the command

   xxxxxxxxxx
   node filename
   

   

Setting up the path

If you are getting an error (cmdlet not recognized) when running the node command, your OS may not have properly configured the $PATH variable during installation

I have a separate guide on how to setup the PATH variable here, but on most modern installations of Node.js on Windows this should automatically be taken care of already.

Code Editor

• Visual Studio Code

  • https://code.visualstudio.com/

  • These are my preferred install settings

    

     

    Feel free to use something else

     

HTTP Client

An HTTP Client can be used to help debug HTTP requests.

• Insomnia Core (not Insomnia Designer)

  • https://insomnia.rest/products/core/

Feel free to use something else

Terminal

• Powershell

  Type powershell into the windows search bar, right click and select Pin to Taskbar

  On MacOS substitute Terminal

  On Windows 7 substitute command prompt ( cmd )

Hosting of Server Code (Optional)

• Paid

  • Digital Ocean

    • https://www.digitalocean.com/

• Free

  • Glitch (TCP servers cannot be hosted here, technical limitation)

    • https://glitch.com/

      Repositories on glitch are public by default, make sure to switch them to private for the duration of the course.

      https://glitch.com/help/privateproject/

      Be careful not to violate the course code sharing policy. If someone finds and submits code you placed in a public repository, both parties face plagiarism accusations.