Module Identifier COM2320  
Module Title DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS GROUP PROJECT  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Professor Christopher J Price  
Semester Available all semesters  
Other staff Professor Christopher J Price, Mr Christopher W Loftus, Mr Rhys Parry  
Pre-Requisite Available only to students taking the Diploma/MSc in Computer Science scheme in Aberystwyth., Considerable software engineering experience and approval of the Department?s MSc Coordination panel.  
Co-Requisite COM5820  
Mutually Exclusive COM1220  
Course delivery Seminars / Tutorials   All 20 hours of contact time will take the form of tutorials, some on-line and others face-to-face.  
  Workload Breakdown   180 hours of private study and coursework assessment.  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment 100% PROGRAMMING PROJECT AND REPORT  100%
Supplementary Assessment THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR SUPPLEMENTARY ASSESSMENT   
Further details http://www.aber.ac.uk/compsci/ModuleInfo/COM2320  

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Analyze a complex problem in the area of distributed systems

Design and implement a solution to the problem

Test and critically evaluate their solution

Apply the prescribed software development methodology

Aims

This module will be undertaken by MSc in Internet and Distributed Systems students who already have a grounding in software engineering and therefore over-qualified for the COM1220 module (Building High Quality Systems). The module is aimed at students who undertook a software engineering module in their first degree. Students will be required to demonstrate their ability to work within a group and to apply a prescribed software engineering methodology to build a distributed system.

Brief description

This project builds on the MSc students? experience gained in COM5820. The students will analyze a situation needing a distributed solution and construct a program to provide a solution. A novel software engineering methodology, such as XP, will be prescribed.

Content

1. Tutorials.

Tutorials will be undertaken at the start of the project to set out the content of the project, and the terms on which it will be developed and assessed. Further tutorials will be undertaken where students are able to complete their project with the help and advice of teaching staff.

2. Written material.

Various written material giving guidance on carrying out the project, assessment issues, and the project submission is provided by the Department.

Module Skills

Problem_solving Deciding on an appropriate design when developing a distributed application  
Research skills Students will be required to acquire further knowledge from books and on-line sources  
Communication Students will practice communication skills during the tutorial and assignment  
Improving own Learning and Performance The assessed coursework requires students to develop their understanding of issues associated with the module  
Team work This is a group project, so team-work is important.  
Information Technology Entire content of module  
Application of Number No  
Personal Development and Career planning No  
Subject Specific Skills See learning outcomes  

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Consultation
John Hunt, Chris Loftus (March 2003) Guide to J2EE: Enterprise Java Springer-Verlag 1852337044
Martin Fowler (Oct 2003) UML Distilled Addison Wesley 0321193687
Mark Grand (2002) Patterns in Java: a catalog of reusable design patterns illustrated with UML vol 1. John Wiley & Sons 0471227293

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7