Module Information

This module is designed for students with experience of programming in procedural languages. The material covered will be similar to that in CS12230 but will build on the students' previous computing experience. The practical work associated with the module will help students to become familiar with Java and the development environment offered at Aberystwyth.
Personal transferable skills are an important quality of any software engineer and form an important part of this module.

The module concentrates on the design of software using object oriented design techniques in a way that eases development by a team of programmers, enhances reuse of existing components and improves the maintainability of the resulting software.
The idea of problem solving and algorithm design is addressed very early on in the module. Through extensive practical experience, students gain skills in developing, evaluating and implementing their own designs. Through the tutorial system they are also given practice in evaluating and implementing designs produced by others. Emphasis is placed on distinguishing between the design of a software product and its implementation.
The Java programming language is used as a basis for illustrating the concepts covered by the syllabus. The intention of the supervised practical sessions is to enhance the problem solving and programming skills of participants, giving them practical experience of writing software systems in Java. Java is integrated into students? existing mental models of programming by consideration of other programming paradigms.
Weekly tutorials provide the pastoral support for the first semester and give a forum for discussing the technical aspects of material presented in this module.
The Activity Weekend is designed to enhance the student's team working skills and to further develop their interpersonal and communication skills. Through a series of varied tasks held over the weekend, and supported by further project work, students will be exercised in their problem solving abilities.

1. Welcome and preview - 1 Lecture

Introduction to the department and the course.

2. Management Issues and Professional Conduct - 1 Lecture

The growing role of computing and software. The need for software engineering and professionalism.

3. Computer system appreciation - 1 Lecture

Computer organisation at Aberystwyth. Emphasis is placed on the relationships between hardware, architecture and software, with reference to the computer systems at Aberystwyth.

4. Programming Paradigms ? 10 lectures

An examination of different programming paradigms. Linking previous experience with Object-oriented ideas. Other paradigms and Tools.

5. Representation of designs - 3 Lectures

An introduction to illustrating designs using the Unified Modelling Language (UML).

6. Programming in the large - An introduction to Java - 23 Lectures

Software crisis, abstraction, algorithms and programs. The design of algorithms, object oriented programming, and an introduction to Java. Programming constructs, expressions, primitive types, classes and objects. Information hiding. Further object oriented design - inheritance.

7. Testing - 1 Lectures

Techniques and aids for error detection.

8. Personal Communications Skills - 1 Weekend

Team roles; Belbin methodology and self assessment. Interpersonal skills - achieved in associated Team Skills weekends.