[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:29:21.836976+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzNjA0NDc3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2475953","instructor_name":"Justin Hsu","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2020-08-22 02:27:22 +0000 UTC","comment":"Best professor I had and the most interesting and the most inspirational content I learned. You learn both theoratical and practical knowledge about programming languages and paradigms, and I think they are very important knowledge for future software engineers. The programming projects are hard but you will ultimately learn a lot.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2475953","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:29:21.836976+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzMjM2MTU3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2475953","instructor_name":"Justin Hsu","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2020-05-08 00:00:17 +0000 UTC","comment":"Out of all the CS classes I have taken, I would definitely say that this class had the hardest programs, but this class also had the most helpful Professor and TA's I have ever experienced. So even though it took a while to do the programs, they gave us a lot of time and provided all the resources to do well. Learning 2 languages is also a bonus.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2475953","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:29:21.836976+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzMTg2OTc1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2475953","instructor_name":"Justin Hsu","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2020-05-03 02:47:34 +0000 UTC","comment":"10/10 would recommend you take this class with Justin -- honestly no cap the best CS class I have taken at Madison the content is interesting and Justin/TAs were super helpful and caring","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2475953","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:29:21.836976+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzMTcxOTk0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2475953","instructor_name":"Justin Hsu","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2020-05-01 00:56:54 +0000 UTC","comment":"I really enjoyed this course and Justin was a wonderful professor. He was always available outside of class (piazza or in person), and very willing to answer questions. I can tell that he was passionate about the class and genuinely wants his students to succeed. The class was definitely not easy, but it was interesting and a good experience.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2475953","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:29:21.836976+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMxNTM1NDQ4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2475953","instructor_name":"Justin Hsu","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2019-04-05 01:46:33 +0000 UTC","comment":"For his first time teaching this course, Justin has done an excellent job. He's extremely accessible outside of class and responds quickly to emails and Piazza posts. The class itself is also interesting, giving you the chance to learn new programming languages. It's obvious that Justin cares a lot about his students.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2475953","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQzMDkyNDM3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2026-05-11 15:50:55 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kaiser is super understanding and nice. Lectures are easy to engage with and he encourages interactions in the class. The homework's can be a little hard but he's super helpful at office hours. The exams are usually very similar to the practice exams so it's not too hard to study for them.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwODA1NTM0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2025-03-23 20:05:06 +0000 UTC","comment":"He gives absolutely no resources to learn from. Lectures are useless and don't teach you anything to complete the assignments. If you want to pass, you will have to learn using online resources. He also doesn't know how to teach. He doesn't post practice exam solutions, so you don't know if your doing the questions right or wrong.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwMjg1Nzg1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-12-14 00:04:12 +0000 UTC","comment":" this class isnt easy, i am not the smartest person in the world but i passed with a C, and i will tell you how i did that: kaiser is extremely flexible with deadlines and is very forgiving. he also is willing to sit down with you in office hours, as not many other profs do, and explain the projects and homework. Be for real ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5NjA1NTg4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-07-02 16:43:14 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kaiser is nice and fun but is a horrible teacher. Covers surface level content in class and then gives complex homework assignments that you willl be unprepared for. The final project was impossible without prior experience and students were told to \"stop whining\" after complaining on Piazza. You can ChatGPT a good grade, but don't expect to learn.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5NDM0OTQ1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-05-10 23:25:19 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kaiser is not a good professor. He made the final project impossible, with content that was way out of the scope compared to lecture. I can't tell you how many people complained on piazza only to get told to \"stop whining\" and to \"figure out how to test your code\". He is unorganized, doesn't respond to emails, and has no clue how to use piazza.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MzgwNjYx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-05-06 19:43:07 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kaiser is a nice and fun lecturer, he's a smart guy but it feels like he was just given this class to teach because it was an open role. The lectures and homework are almost two different classes, causing you to learn content outside of class to finish hw. He also doesn't know canvas on how to set up a course page or proper grading distributions. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MzM0Njk1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-05-02 01:16:59 +0000 UTC","comment":"Nothing gets posted to Canvas. No syllabus anywhere to be found. Takes forever to answer questions on Piazza. Most of the material in the homework assignments are never covered in class. A lot, if not all of the class is self-taught. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":1.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5Mjc3NTY2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-04-26 16:35:22 +0000 UTC","comment":"The professor is not very responsive on Piazza, and homework often covers topics not discussed in class, requiring lengthy waits during crowded office hours. Additionally, the Canvas page is poorly organized, lacking a clear homepage.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MDQwMDcw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2024-03-11 03:50:22 +0000 UTC","comment":"There are written & programming assignments every week but the topics in the written homework aren't even covered in lectures. You're kinda left alone to figure it out yourself as there is 1 TA and prof. available among 90-ish students. The subject of the class is also SUPER niche, so there are no online resources either. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MzcyNDA5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2023-11-10 17:45:13 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kaiser is a super kind and enthusiastic person. He really empathizes with his students, explains things in a clear way, and is a total PL nerd. Assignments are interesting, but grades come in slowly since there's only 1 TA in this class. Bro uses Discord for his office hours and encourages us to use LLMs on homework. Average on the midterm was 80%.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MzY1MTUx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2023-11-09 15:57:03 +0000 UTC","comment":"Really hit or miss on answering questions quickly on the class Discord server. Homeworks are completely figure-it-out-yourself, may or may not even be related to class material, and due about 1 day after the material is taught. Material feels as if it lacks a reasonable structure. Extra credit is offered, but overall - not worth taking this class.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MzM2MzU3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2023-11-03 02:02:44 +0000 UTC","comment":"Kaiser is impossible to reach- there is a discord server for the class and the questions are always unanswered, as well as by email. His lectures are very unhelpful, and the projects are extremely difficult- some in programming languages that he doesn't even teach. He does give a generous amount of extra credit, but you only have one day to do it.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":5.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM4MjEwNjAx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2023-09-09 22:25:31 +0000 UTC","comment":"One of the best!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3NTQ2Mzgz","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2023-03-27 21:13:00 +0000 UTC","comment":"I'm a junior and Kaiser is by far the best professor I've had so far. Teaches a difficult and sometimes uninteresting subject in a very fun and easy to understand way. One of the most knowledgeable professors I've had as well, meaning that his office hours and Piazza are very helpful. Exams and HW are difficult, but grades are very reasonable","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:27:47.397650+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM3NTI5MTM1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2871234","instructor_name":"Kaiser Pister","course_label":"CS538","course_id":"COMPSCI 538","course_uid":"course_72304a5f1ade48d79a193831","review_date":"2023-03-22 18:56:07 +0000 UTC","comment":"Super nice younger guy. Passionate about what he teaches. Actually remembers what it's like to be a student. Does a good job of relating theoretical topics in class to real world examples. Homeworks and exams are difficult but he's very understanding when it comes to grading. Class topics are interesting and you'll learn a ton.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2871234","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0}]