Welcome to the XCF Home Page!

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What is the XCF?

The primary goal of the eXperimental Computing Facility is to encourage undergraduate Computer Science students to get more excited about C.S. than merely learning the art of computer programming while here at CAL.

We try to accomplish this goal in several ways:

A fun, interesting computing environment to do computer science.: Currently, the XCF office is 117 Cory Hall. The major idea behind having an office instead of just a groups of computers for remote login is that enthusiastic computer science people together have a lot more fun, are more productive, and learn a lot more about comptuer science than when they work seperately.

Computer resources for members to work on.: True, with the computing facilities available to computer science majors, there really isn't a need for extra computing power. However, the XCF computing facilities provide a quote different service than mere computing power. (Not to mention the fact that the CS facilities are not always available to non-majors.) The XCF computers provide an environment for CS undergraduates to experience running their own computer systems - with all of the freedoms and responsibilities implied!

A contact point for undergraduates and the faculty.: The XCF functions as a go-between between undergrads and faculty - it is a meeting point for the two to contact each other and get more involved. When professors are going out with undergraduates for dinner, because both parties are enjoying themselves and having fun with computer science, the XCF will have accomplished this goal. (But we won't stop there!) The relationship is still being defined. The two people who are working on actual documents (for now) are Marco Nicosia, the XCF director, and John Canny of the CS Division.

The current Director of the XCF is: Marco Nicosia (marco@XCF.Berkeley.EDU)
Meet the Active Members of the XCF!

YES we're always looking for new members! The members make the organization... If you'd like to join, find out how and go for it!

... WAY under construction

We're currently re-creating both the server AND the organization. Please stand by!

Disclaimer: Since the organization is changing, some of the information on this server is projected - do not take the information here as written in stone.