Module Overview

Posted on September 27th, 2021

Part of Notes on Software Design

Since these are taken from a university module, we naturally have stuff like this.

Aims

The module aims to explore the role and nature of design in software development, to make use of industrially-relevant techniques and tools, and to develop (relatively) 'large scale' software.

We will also be expected to challenge and question the concepts and points we raise; design choices are subjective and even the module leaders may learn from our decisions.

Outcomes

• Use design strategies effectively to guide the production of solutions in a complex problem domain
• Select and apply contemporary design techniques to generate effective and usable software designs
• Use designs to construct non-trivial software systems
• Use experience gained during the design and development case-studies to discuss and critically evaluate the impact of design approaches on software qualities
• Discuss and evaluate current design techniques in particular development contexts, and the role of these techniques in addressing issues and trade-offs, that arise during the development of complex software systems

Assessment

Coursework 1 Design a case study (20%)

Coursework 2 Implementation and evaluation (30%)

Exam Critically analyse experience and techniques (50%)

Suggested Reading

• Head First Design Patterns (Freeman & Freeman, O' Reilly)
• Interaction Design (Jenny Preece, Yvonne Rogers, Helen Sharp)
• Designing Interfaces (Jennifer Tidwell, O'Reilly)
• Design Patterns: elements of reusable object oriented software (Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides) 🎉
• Sprint : how to solve big problems and test new ideas in just five days (Jake Knapp)
• The Design of Everyday Things (Donald Norman)
• Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture (Martin Fowler) 🎉