[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:55:31.347970+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI0MzE3MjA3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1971528","instructor_name":"Drew Davidson","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2015-01-21 18:55:09 +0000 UTC","comment":"Drew does an excellent job of explaining important concepts in his lectures. He does a great job of reading the room, and going into more detail on subjects that students are struggling with. I always had the opportunity to ask questions and have things explained if needed. Very good instructor, understands compilers well, and cares about students.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1971528","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:55:31.347970+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI0MjA5MDE0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1971528","instructor_name":"Drew Davidson","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2014-12-31 02:15:05 +0000 UTC","comment":"Drew was an amazing teacher. He put a ton of time into the class and explains things very well. He responds to Piazza usually in under 10 minutes if there are any questions.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1971528","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2MzgwNDY3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2022-05-20 05:15:21 +0000 UTC","comment":"Great at breaking concepts down in an understandable way. He's got a good dry sense of humor as well.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2MzU1MzY0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2022-05-17 02:50:45 +0000 UTC","comment":"Not a good professor to take compiler course.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NzI0Nzk3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2022-01-09 22:46:32 +0000 UTC","comment":"You wont just learn how a compiler works, youll build one from start to finish! This is no small task, which is why its split into 6 projects (20 hours/project) that build on each other. Can still be quite nerve-racking. Aws is a friendly fellow. TL;DR Not easy but highly instructive","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NjMzNzY3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2021-12-22 18:54:13 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lots of info in one semester, but definitely manageable. Lectures were engaging, projects were good, but some used tools older than the students with bad documentation, which was frustrating at times. Midterm & exam weren't too bad, but definitely required some studying. I'd take a course w/ him again for sure.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMyNzMzNjM3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2019-12-20 23:20:03 +0000 UTC","comment":"Aws is pretty fantastic. I'll be honest, I am not particularly interested in Compilers, but he found a way to make it interesting. I feel like a learned a lot of useful knowledge in a class where I didn't really have that expectation. He does a great job in lecture and has clear and fair assignments and tests.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxMTY0Mjg4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-12-27 20:20:54 +0000 UTC","comment":"Excellent professor with engaging lectures. Cannot recommend him higher. Reasonable workloads, values quality of work over quantity, very available for questions and concerns, course was strong in theory but his lectures were in plain English and he did a great job of making it easy to grok the abstract.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxMDQ0Mjg4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-12-15 19:58:11 +0000 UTC","comment":"Good at breaking down concepts in an understandable way, always willing to go back and answer questions to make sure everyone understands the material, holds useful review sessions before tests.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxMDQ0Mjg2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-12-15 19:57:57 +0000 UTC","comment":"He is passionate about both the subject and teaching and it shows. While I recommend going to lecture, he publishes full notes online and they are amazing. The projects are a bit repetitive but make sure that you understand the material. Overall a really solid professor.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMwNjk4NDEw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-11-10 17:16:01 +0000 UTC","comment":"Programming projects were way too long and complicated, and often failed to reinforce the information learned in class. I found the professor's homework assignments to be very tedious, and left way too much room for interpretation and contained plenty of vague wording, which is what you don't want on a programming project.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMwNjY0ODE3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-11-05 22:29:14 +0000 UTC","comment":"He's not a terrible professor, but the class is kinda boring and he doesn't really change that. Nice in office hours, though.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI5NjIyMTUx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-03-05 15:34:29 +0000 UTC","comment":"This guy came in and copied everything from the previous professor. Course page, homeworks, lecture slides -- you name it. Didn't even bother to update the assignments to change info from last year's class to this year's. My partner and I submitted buggy code and somehow received 100%, seems like he just wants to look good.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:53:45.950777+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI5MzU2OTQ5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2240014","instructor_name":"Aws Albarghouthi","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2017-12-29 15:55:47 +0000 UTC","comment":"Aws was fantastic! His lectures were really clear and helpful. The course had a lot of material online that supplemented what we covered and was great review. I visited office hours once with him and he wasn't super helpful, but the TA's were fantastic. He was also willing to adjust my grade at the end of the semester. Would definitely recommend!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2240014","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:17.836692+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMDc2NTQ1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:384064","instructor_name":"Beck Hasti","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2025-04-28 22:24:02 +0000 UTC","comment":"I would have rated Beck a 5 on his lectures. He takes truly difficult lecture material and puts it in such a way that is at least digestible and his exams are fair. The issue is that he takes FOREVER to grade anything. It takes over 2 months to grade weekly projects. If you are ok with that I cannot recommend him enough for any class he teaches.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/384064","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:17.836692+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5NDk1NjQx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:384064","instructor_name":"Beck Hasti","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2024-05-20 05:41:33 +0000 UTC","comment":"Beck is a nice professor that is clearly very knowledgeable about the topics of compilers, but is incredibly boring during lecture. Thankfully, all of the lecture notes are posted online afterwards, making lecture optional, but effectively having to self-study the course due to the dullness of instruction is absolutely a negative.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/384064","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:17.836692+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4Nzg5NDIz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:384064","instructor_name":"Beck Hasti","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2023-12-24 20:01:27 +0000 UTC","comment":"Beck Hasti is probably the best professor (certainly in CS) at UW. This class was an incredible ride - I learned a ton, and always was able to get clarifications from the professor if needed, and exams/projects were difficult but had super clear criteria. There is not much more you could possibly want - 536 remains my favorite course at UW.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/384064","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:17.836692+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MTM0OTI0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:384064","instructor_name":"Beck Hasti","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2023-07-31 23:06:16 +0000 UTC","comment":"Best professor so far I had at UW Madison. Nice and caring person. He made compilers super easy and have reviewed a lot of concepts in computer science like NFA and CFG. I was having trouble understanding these topics before but Beck taught it so well in this class that it all made sense. Super rewarding class, project heavy but well worth it!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/384064","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:49:12.610026+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxNTM3MDE2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1056518","instructor_name":"Charles Fischer","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2019-04-05 09:54:11 +0000 UTC","comment":"He's a good teach and has interesting lectures and stories.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1056518","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:49:12.610026+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTIzMDQ1NTI4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1056518","instructor_name":"Charles Fischer","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2014-04-16 00:34:45 +0000 UTC","comment":"I took compilers from Fischer in Fall 2013. Assignments were cumulative & difficult, but he allowed extra credit; It's difficult, but DO IT. It's worth the trouble. I spent a lot of time asking him questions in office hours, he was extremely helpful.I learned  a lot from him (he really knows his stuff). He wrote the textbook after all..","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1056518","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:49:12.610026+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTEzNjYxODky","source_instructor_id":"rmp:1056518","instructor_name":"Charles Fischer","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2007-11-15 17:47:00 +0000 UTC","comment":"Likes the subject and is writing a text on compilers.  Has a lot of energy in his lectures and is funny in his way.  Sometimes his lectures seem unrelated to the projects, but eventually it all ties together.  Enjoyed the class and learned a great deal without being overwhelmed.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/1056518","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0Nzc1Mjg5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2021-05-12 17:12:21 +0000 UTC","comment":"While it wasn't a pleasant experience taking compiler, he tried. His lecture requires many revision to understand. The biggest problem was practice test was nothing like the real one. And assignments were vague. Though I need to say he is fairly lenient in terms of curving. And office hours were not the most helpful. So a lot of self study require","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":3.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxNzkxMjQ0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2019-05-07 01:35:13 +0000 UTC","comment":"I recommend that all CS students take programming languages/compilers. It's a fundamental area of CS along with algos and OS and will benefit you greatly. Loris is one of the best profs teaching this course, and he is a skilled and funny lecturer. The coding assignments are tough(build a compiler) but great experience working with large code bases.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxNzY2NzY5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2019-05-04 04:49:51 +0000 UTC","comment":"Lackluster professor. Has that "I know more than you" attitude towards students in office hours. Programming assignments ended up being 3000+ lines long near the end of the semester. Homeworks are difficult and tricky if you aren't on TOP of everything in this class. Midterm was absolute hell, really the hardest thing I've ever taken..","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI5NTgzNTY0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2018-02-21 11:37:38 +0000 UTC","comment":"Great guy, makes sure you understand the concepts. He makes compilers fun and interesting! Homeworks and projects are reasonable and build up on previous material covered. If lectures prove to be difficult, his online notes clear up any confusion.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI3NTEyNjU4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2016-12-15 14:24:25 +0000 UTC","comment":"His teaching style doesn't help you learn the material at all. Slides basically summarized the online reading but were full of errors. If you want to see a funny guy, take his class. If you want a good teacher, avoid him.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI2NjQ0OTE1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2016-05-24 15:41:33 +0000 UTC","comment":"Making sure that  concepts are understood is clearly a priority for him. Homework assignments and projects reinforce concepts, and tests are fair.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI2Mzk2NjM3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2016-04-27 18:14:22 +0000 UTC","comment":"Good professor - I only went to class a few times because the slides/online notes were very good. Pretty good amount of work, but not too conceptually difficult.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:22:45.738514+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI2MjQxNTY3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2124712","instructor_name":"Loris D'Antoni","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2016-04-06 13:22:04 +0000 UTC","comment":"I took a chance taking a class with Loris this semester, as he wasn't even listed on this site. Thankfully that turned out pretty well; he's far from a bad instructor, though he can be a bit blunt at times. The material is very theoretical at first, but not too confusing once you begin applying it. He's also pretty funny, so that's a plus.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2124712","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:05:21.647929+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTIwMDU0NDIx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:981721","instructor_name":"Somesh Jha","course_label":"CS536","course_id":"COMPSCI 536","course_uid":"course_20918224366f6bbd226f8ec0","review_date":"2012-04-15 23:03:52 +0000 UTC","comment":"Somesh is a very helpful professor. There is no textbook for the class and his notes he gives in class are very helpful. Midterms aren't too bad, some of the questions are similar to past exams. Overall a very good class and clear professor.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/981721","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0}]