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Study information

Software Development - 2024 entry

MODULE TITLESoftware Development CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEECM2414 MODULE CONVENERDr Majeed Soufian (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 91
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

The module will introduce you to software design and development concepts and methods, alongside intermediate and advanced constructs and concepts in the Java programming language, and the programming paradigms these relate to. This includes generic programming (and Java generics), concurrent programming (via Java threads), design patterns, networked programs and nested inner classes. We will also cover widespread tools in software development, including version control and unit testing.
 

Prerequisite module: ECM1410 or equivalent.

AIMS - intentions of the module

This module will introduce you to methods for the rigorous testing and assessment of software, and prepare you for complex programming tasks in a specific object-oriented programming language, including advanced concepts and syntax, and the use of multiple programs in parallel.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:


Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 use a software design and development method which incorporates both formal and informal techniques appropriately;

2 design and implement rigorous testing frameworks for software, and be aware of the inherent limitations of tests developed;

3 deploy advanced object-oriented language concepts and techniques;

4 develop multi-program software systems.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

5 follow the phases of software development;

6 recognise and evaluate different development practices, and judge their appropriateness for a specific development problem.


Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

7 analyse and break down a problem into constituent parts;

8 compare and critically contrast different potential solutions to a problem;

9 follow the pair-programming development approach used widely in industry.

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

The module syllabus is based on the four themes below, each individual topic listed being related to at least one of these themes:

- software design: design patterns (builder pattern, singleton pattern, abstract factory method pattern, decorator pattern);

- software development and testing: fundamentals of software development and testing, V-model, unit testing, code coverage, corner cases, unit tests and the JUnit framework, mock objects and test suites, sophisticated integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems;

- doing multiple things at once: concurrency, multi-tasking and threading, race conditions, atomic data, locks, deadlock, starvation, livelock, synchronisation, thread notification, data freshness, instance confinement, object publication and escape, safe construction, thread confinement, thread management, thread states, sockets, remote method invocation;

- programming styles and advanced Java syntax: generic programming, Java generics, event-driven programming, events and listeners, reflection in Java, Java collections framework.

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 52 Guided Independent Study 98 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 22 Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20 Workshops/tutorials
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 10 Surgeries
Guided independent study 20 Individual assessed work
Guided independent study 78 Wider reading and exam preparation

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Online test 1 hour 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 Oral, and in model answer review in surgeries

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 40 Written Exams 60 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Written exam 60 1-hour January Exam  All Oral, on request
Coursework  – practical programming assignment 40 40 hours All Written feedback submitted code/assignment and/or on feedback sheet. Oral feedback in surgeries

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
Written exam Written exam (1 hour) All August Ref/Def period
Coursework - practical programming assignment Coursework - practical programming assignment All August Red/Def period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Reassessment will be by coursework and/or written exam in the failed or deferred element only. For referred candidates, the module mark will be capped at 40%. For deferred candidates, the module mark will be uncapped.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE:  College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Bloch, Joshua Effective Java: Programming Language Guide 2nd Addison Wesley 2008 978-0321356680
Set Darwin, Ian Java Cookbook 2nd O'Reilly 2004 978-0596007010
Set Downey, Adam How to think like a computer scientist 4th http://www.greentreepress.com/thinkapjava/ 2004
Set Freeman, E & E, Sierra, K, Bates, B Head First Design Patterns O'Reilly Media 2004 978-0596007126
Set Langr, Jeff, Hunt, Andy & Thomas, Dave Pragmatic Unit Testing in Java 8 with JUnit Pragmatic Bookshelf 2015 9781941222591
Set Niemeyer, Patrick and Knudsen, Jonathan Learning Java 3rd O'Reilly 2005
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES ECM1410
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 2 (NQF level 5) AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Thursday 19th October 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH Software development; Java; concurrent programs; design patterns; software testing; networked programs.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.