uwloo

SYDE 121Digital Computation

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Systems Design Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Computer systems, problem solving, data and programs, structured programming, arrays, matrices and pointers, correct and efficient algorithms, data structures.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • BME121 - Digital Computation (0.50)
    • CIVE121 - Computational Methods (0.50)
    • ECE150 - Fundamentals of Programming (0.50)
    • MTE121 - Digital Computation (0.50)

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 0014624107 / 110MWF 08:30–09:20
Sep 15 08:30–09:20
Sep 22 08:30–09:20
MW 08:30–09:20
F 08:30–09:20
Oct 5 08:30–09:20
Oct 7 08:30–09:20
MWF 08:30–09:20
Nov 11 08:30–09:20
MWF 08:30–09:20
LAB 2014492107 / 110T 09:30–11:20
TUT 1014493107 / 110Th 10:30–11:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

78% liked it62% easy95% useful

From 104 ratings and 18 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • This class is an introduction to programming. If you have done OOP you can sleep your way through this course. If not, I’ve noticed there is a bit of a struggle because it is a lot of content for 4 months. The weekly labs help if you actually do them yourself.

    Nov 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • For those with out any programming experience, this class is a solid introduction to the basic concepts of C++. The assignments can be difficult, and will take several hours, though if you have had a lot of previous experience, they will seem more tedious than anything. How much you like the course, will ultimately depend on how much you end up liking programming.

    Nov 2012 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very clearly into his MINOR(s)

    Aug 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • If you took a programming class in high school the first half of the course is sleeper. However, they eventually introduce you to newer concepts that can take you by surprise once you inevitably forget about this class. Just get used to C++ syntax and watch youtube videos.

    Aug 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Yes the class is supposed to be teaching something useful for the work term but unfortunately I feel like the structure of the course didn't actually teach me anything. I wish there were more assignments since coding is learnt by doing. We only had a midterm, final and 2 assignments the whole term. The assignments also had nothing to do with what we were learning in class and they were so easy.

    Jan 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

18 posts and comments in 14 threads mention SYDE 121, June 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Winter 2022

Spring 2020

Winter 2019

systems vs softeng 3 points, 3 comments

“currently unsure of what to do. i feel like i'll have a better chance getting into systems but I like programming and designing stuff. Are you able to take software electives in systems? …”

u/jassmall: “… could be found in different engineering programs (including the two programming courses SYDE 121 and 223). …”

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Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “… SWREN 442R SWREN 443A SWREN 443B SWREN 443R SWREN 470R SYDE 101 SYDE 101L SYDE 111 SYDE 113 SYDE 121 SYDE 161 SYDE 181 SYDE 182 SYDE 202 SYDE 212 SYDE 252 SYDE 262 SYDE 283 SYDE 286 SYDE 292 SYDE 292L SYDE 401 SYDE 411 SYDE 461 SYDE 533 SYDE 543 SYDE 553 SYDE 575 SYDE 631 SYDE …”

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Spring 2017

GENE 121 and ME 101 syllabus 1 point, 3 comments

“Does anyone have access to either of these? Thanks in advance”

u/Some-_-: “Focus on having fun bro. You'll have plenty of time to stress about these once Uni starts. Use whatever time you have now to build social skills, hang out with friends, chill at the beach, etc.”

u/uwxd: “I'm not looking to use to syllabus :P I'm transferring and need the syllabus to compare to SYDE 121 for the undergraduate curriculum committee to determine if I have to take SYDE 121.”

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Spring 2016

Coop "pair programming" environment 8 points, 32 comments

“So I went in for an developer interview today, and the interviewer was talking about how they operate in an agile workflow, and they do "pair programming." I thought this was just the standard buzz …”

u/windyrivers: “in syde 121, all of our programming labs were pair programming. great way to talk through problems. that said, i think it's bizarre to do it ALL the time in a work environment.”

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Fall 2015

Hi, I am a bot. 75 points, 98 comments

“Hey everyone! After some discussion with mods, I think I am ready to be pushed live. I am a bot designed to provide relevant course information upon request. …”

u/GeneralGains: “[[CS 115]]”

u/UWRedditBot: “… Prerequisites: None Antirequisites: CS 121, 122, 123, 125, 131, 132, 133, 135, 137, 138, 145, CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, GENE 121, PHYS 139, SYDE 121 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”

u/cursedorenriched: “[[PHYS 236]]”

u/UWRedditBot: “… Antirequisites: PHYS 139, CS 121, 122, 123, 125, 131, 132, 133, 135, CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, GENE 121, NE 113, SYDE 121 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”

u/MuchBetterThanBest: “[[CS 135]]”

u/UWRedditBot: “… Prerequisites: None Antirequisites: CS 115, 121, 122, 123, 125, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 138, 145, CHE 121, CIVE 121, ECE 150, GENE 121, PHYS 139, SYDE 121 Available Online: No -----------------------------------------------”

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SYDE vs SE, balance of hardware&software? 12 points, 15 comments

“I'm a grade 12 student who plans on applying to Waterloo for their engineering programs. I love software and enjoy my time learning new things as well as applying my skills. …”

u/jaydubs12: “… http://www.ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/1516/COURSE/course-SYDE.htmlSYDE461 There are only a couple software courses that you complete in classes, being: - SYDE 121 (C++) - SYDE 223 (Java, Data structures and algorithms) - SYDE 322 (Software design - Technical Elective) I can not …”

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Spring 2015

Overloading CS 246? 10 points, 26 comments

“I'm in Systems Design Engineering and I recently decided to pursue a CS Minor. Looking at the courses I wanted to take, I wanted to try and overload CS 246 during the winter term (This would be my 2A …”

u/SpaceWarrior1: “… Think of CS 246 as a plus version of SYDE 121. Just some thoughts: -You're doing a (rather basic) data structures and algorithms course in 2A, so this may be a nice supplement to that. -2A course load is much lighter than 2B and 3A, so 2A would be a perfect time for it. …”

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Spring 2013

Freshman coming in 0 points, 7 comments

“Hey guys, I'm a Freshman coming coming into SYDE and I was just wondering if there was any advice you'd give me. …”

u/Victawr: “… Hard courses: 1a: probably just syde 121 (c++) if you don't know how to code. Everything else is easy. 1b: physics I guess? Our prof was bad. All other courses pretty straightforward. 2a: nothing overly difficult. …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

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