Software Engineering (Study Abroad)

An adaptable approach is taken to new tools and technologies, allowing an understanding of the importance of selecting the best programming tool for a given problem. A number of new programming languages are introduced from different programming language families and build upon good practices established in Year 1. An appreciation of the history and diversity of programming languages is encouraged, such as understanding their domains of application and to learn to think more broadly about programming. Understanding of the application domain and relative strengths, weaknesses and performance of various language types will be promoted and language concepts and list comprehensions are also introduced.

This module requires a level of self-discipline to recognise and build programs that not only function to a high degree but incorporate non-functional properties. The generation of elegant, scalable and extensible software is expected from the course. Through this experience, students develop the ability to reason logically and algorithmically about problem-solving. They will gain experience of abstracting and simplifying problems based on how the map onto structures and computational elements of programming languages. Confidence in computational thinking will allow students to compare and contrast alternatives.

Students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts underpinning contemporary communications networks and the internet. Key ideas of protocol stacks and layering will be explored, as well as core concepts such as IP addressing and subnetting. As the module progresses, they will then be introduced to the methods used to route packets across the internet. It is this process that enables the global communication network that we so often rely upon today. These concepts will be supported by hands-on practical experience in designing and building networks. Students will also demonstrate their understanding by completing a number of complimentary network programming exercises.

During this module, students will receive a theoretical background to the design, implementation and use of database management systems, for both data designers and application developers. The module also explores the need to define the requirements of database systems, making use of the Extended-Entity Relationship (EER) model as a technique and notation for designing the data in database management systems (DBMS). Students will investigate the mapping of the EER model into an equivalent relational model and then examine it in terms of access rights and privileges.

Over the course of the module, students will become familiar with all the relevant aspects related to information security in the design, development and use of database systems. They will also gain an understanding of how the need for DBMS has evolved over time and how they are applied in everyday scenarios. This technical knowledge will be supplemented by transferable skills in applying efficient physical storage organisation; an increased awareness of the correct processes, models and notations that can be applied to problems; and an ability to critically evaluate a range of technical ideas.

Students will learn theoretical and practical topics in Human-Computer Interaction, with lab work offering hands on experience of design, implementation and the ability to evaluate interactive systems through practical case studies. The course explores the underpinnings of human perception, user-centred design and participatory design processes, with students learning multiple design techniques. The module leads to an understanding of how internal system design impacts external user interface behaviour and highlights the importance of accessibility for all users.

By the end of the module, students will be able to successfully integrate diverse information to form a coherent understanding of Human-Computer Interaction; critically reflect on technical advancements in HCI and demonstrate the independent learning abilities needed for continual professional development and effective written and verbal skills.

Students are introduced to the theoretical and practical application of operating system concepts in SCC211. Throughout the module, internal OS structure; file and I/O management, interrupt handling and device drivers and memory management structures and techniques all become familiar. The module explores process management, including scheduling and threads, and support for multiprocessors. Expect to investigate issues surrounding security and protection, including access control. A practical, hands on approach to module topics is taken to assist in assimilating abstract concepts by presenting concrete examples from suitable operating systems and carrying out relevant programming exercises.

By the end of the module, students should understand the role of a modern operating system and common architectures. System vulnerabilities and how to protect them against security threats are considered throughout. Students will confidently describe typical file system structures and highlight the different approaches to process and task scheduling.

Students will gain the essential skills and knowledge to operate within the professional, legal and ethical frameworks of their profession. Techniques for breaking down a project into manageable parts and efficient time allocation are taught, leading to a fundamental understanding of the skills and methods required to pursue scientific inquiry and the fundamental concepts and tools for statistical analysis to measure and explain data. Exemplars and guidelines on producing concise and structured scientific reports are offered and students receive additional lectures on presentation skills, professional ethics in relation to computing and communications. Finally, lectures provide an awareness of fundamental legal aspects related to a profession in computing and communications, including intellectual property rights and patent law.

Throughout this course, students will gain a high level of awareness of subject specific skills and general competence needed to gain employment in their field. The module develops academic writing and research skills in a computing context, complimenting students’ other modules.

Software Design offers the opportunity to gain an understanding of the importance of software architecture design, different styles of architecture and the meaning of quality attributes for software design such as maintainability, performance and scalability. Students will gain knowledge of systematic approaches to developing software design using a set of graphical models. The design process involved in developing several modes of the system at different levels of abstraction is explained and they will be introduced to object oriented design with UML.

Throughout the module, students will appreciate the broader context of the role of computer science in the workplace, and the key role it plays in implementing software. The course also looks at understanding the meaning of quality attributes for software design as well as architectural models for specific software systems. Students will gain an insight into the main quality attributes for deciding classes. Students will be able to interpret and construct UML models of software and implement a design expressed as a UML mode as well as understanding how to use various design patterns to address certain problems.

Utilising our award winning Software Engineering Design Studio, groups will work on contemporary challenges in software design. Applying the knowledge they have gained in their first year, students will produce a complex, innovative and concrete group project, allowing them to develop skills in project planning, management and execution, requirements analysis, systems design and testing strategies. Through this module, students will gain an understanding of the principles of software engineering.

In groups, students will also give a demonstration of a working system and present elements of their work in written, graphical and verbal forms through the production of materials such as reports, a website, posters and presentations.

Students are offered an understanding of the fundamental principles underpinning modern distributed systems and practical implementation using JAVA RMI. They will explore indirect communication, group communication and non-functional aspects in distributed systems such as scalability, fault-tolerance and dependability. Applications and services such as distributed file systems and Google infrastructure are investigated in the module and students benefit from a practical development of distributed systems using Java RMI, J2EE and associated tools and techniques. Through this, the module examines distributed systems design, security and Java RMI, the Java Messaging Service, Java Groups and component architectures such as Fractal and Enterprise Java Beans (EJB).

Students will expand their problem solving skills and increase their current programming skills, allowing them to successfully develop distributed applications and services. They will explore the client-server model of distributed systems, RPC/RMI and physical and logical security and protection mechanisms. Study of practical tools and techniques currently available in distributed programming and engaging in discussions of key non-functional properties, with an insight into current research issues in the distributed systems community is also featured.

Students will become familiar with a range of issues surrounding the structure, design and deployment of contemporary, large scale and high performance web based services and infrastructures. They will gain the ability to identify barriers to high performance and take a heuristic approach for achieving the best website performance through caching, locality and the use of content delivery networks and cloud hosting. An understanding of the use of analytics, metrics, A/B and multivariate testing will be gained. Through the use of programming toolkits, story tagging and content aggregation, along with XML stores, linked data and RDF students will create responsive web design, including mobile devices, tablets and touch interaction.

By the end of the module, students will have a comprehensive knowledge of using metrics and quantitative data to identify a variety of performance problems. They will be able to use and interpret data analytics, as well as understanding agile web development methodology and how to identify quality processes and provide support for accessibility and internationalisation. Students will conduct weekly experimental lab tasks designed to complement and reinforce lectures, giving both a theoretical knowledge and practical experience in range of topics.

Providing an introduction to formal languages, grammars, automata and how these concepts relate to programming in terms of compilers and the compilation process, students will learn about syntax and semantics, phrase structure grammars and the Chomsky Hierarchy as well as processes such as derivation and parsing. The module focuses on grammar equivalence and ambiguity in context free grammars and its implications. There is exploration of the relationship between languages and abstract machines. Students are presented with the concept of computation alongside Turing’s thesis, alternative models of computation and applications of abstract machine representations. There are further introductions to the compilation process including lexical analysis and syntactic analysis.

By the end of this module, students will understand the relation of programming languages and the theory of formal languages. They will possess an essential understanding of the compilation process for a high-level programming language. Students are encouraged to engage with theoretical aspects of computer science to compliment practical skills in other parts of their degree. There are links to other disciplines such as linguistics, and the course explains the challenges of compilation in the context of software development and computer science.

Covering a range of topics, including asset identification and assessment, threat analysis and management tools and frameworks, students will become familiar with attack lifecycle and processes, as well as risk management and assessment processes, tools and frameworks. The module covers mitigation strategies and the most appropriate mitigation technologies and offers knowledge on assurance frameworks and disaster recovery planning. There is also an opportunity to learn about infrastructure design and implementation technologies and attack tree and software design evaluation.

Students will gain an understanding of the different ways in which an IT professional can make effective decisions when securing an IT infrastructure. The course will make them aware of the tools, frameworks and models that can be used to identify assets, threats and risks, before selecting the most appropriate strategies to manage the exposure that IT infrastructure faces in the light of this analysis. The module builds on their skills with a practical examination of the mechanisms by which IT infrastructures are attacked.

Building upon their experience of developing individual software modules through the introduction of complex and realistic software systems, a studio approach is taken for students to focus on the integration and networking of software modules to create larger systems. Software engineering techniques relevant to medium sized networked projects, such as models of distributed architecture, large-scale integration testing, distributed team development and techniques for large scale software quality are taught. In groups, students deliver reports, code and demonstrate a working system. Elements of this work will be presented in a range of verbal, graphical and verbal forms such as reports, websites, posters and presentations.

The course imparts knowledge in the application of software engineering, system development and application programming principles. There is also an awareness of concepts to the development of networked software modules. Project management and planning skills alongside technical skills within a project and medium sized group context are developed through assessment. Students will be building on their experience of working within a team, co-ordinating work within a group and resolving and problems or conflicts.

Working on a project with industry involvement, and building on the skills acquired in Software Design Studio Project II (Networked Studio), groups will work on a large system that will be deployed with live users at the end of the course. Focusing on building a real-life innovative system that will potentially have commercial or research value, the development process will adopt an agile approach with a strong emphasis on software engineering practice. Students will deliver and demonstrate a working system and they will also present certain elements of their work in written, graphical and verbal forms through the production of materials such as reports, websites, posters and presentations.

Completion of the module offers hands-on experience through working closely with clients in software. Students are equipped with a range of skills for planning, designing and building industry standard software systems, and they’ll be working as part of a large team, resolving any conflicts.