It's a theory class so the material is really abstract. I've taken Ananth before for 178 and he always does take-home tests. It's not like he magically makes the content easy to understand but he is clearly very knowledgable and the class is reasonably fair. The first homework was very harshly graded. Provides covid-era recordings of lecture.

Great class, very fair HWs & tests, and class curve at the end. Lectures were great as well, always made sure everyone understood everything before moving on, and genuinely did care about students. I would take another class from him if he taught one. I always came out of lectures happy with what I learned, idk why he has bad reviews.

Nice guy but imo really difficult lectures, I never felt like they made sense. HW is hard but lots of time given, midterm+final were take home bc he's aware the material is rlly hard, but they're still too hard compared to lectures. Class NEEDED MORE OFFICE HOURS. Only thing I really know is how to make DFAs. Everything else? lol. Way too abstract.

Much of what was covered in lecture didn't even begin to capture how difficult the homework would be. He also encouraged students to just write I don't know and would give more credit for writing I don't know in comparison to an actual attempt.

Lots of people were unhappy with how the class was conducted. He provides clear lectures that drive the material home. However, since this is an upper division class expect to put in work. I don't think most people were prepared for that kind of rigor. His homework was fair and while his exams were tough, they were doable.

Not sure why people think the homework is a lot. The problems are clear and doable in a week. The lectures are very well structured. The midterm was hard but the professor was very generous with the curve. If you don't watch lectures and do practice problems you will fall behind in the class as expected in any upper div class