The software enterprise - from ideas to products

Summary

This course teaches the journey taken by software engineering teams from incipient ideas to software products that solve real problems for real people.

Content

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

CS-173 Fundamentals of Digital Systems (BA2) (from 2024-2025)

CS-214 Software construction (BA3)

CS-202 Computer systems (BA4)

Important concepts to start the course

Must be proficient in programming in C and Python and object-oriented Java/Kotlin/Scala

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Design and implement mobile and/or cloud apps
• Master a variety of system design patterns
• Work in and manage a team of developers
• Identify opportunities for using software to solve real-world problems
• Plan a software product from A-to-Z
• Assess / Evaluate progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate
• Manage priorities & basics of product management
• Optimize the use of time and resources to achieve a given goal
• Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner
• Develop auto-didact skills

Teaching methods

• Ex cathedra
• Recitations and workshops
• Extensive team-based project

Expected student activities

• Work with team members to complete a substantial project
• Independently research solutions, study documentation, etc. (auto-didact)

Assessment methods

• Throughout the semester (continuous control)
• Grade determined based on both team and individual performance in the project
• Deliverables include an implemented software product v.1 and a written product plan for v.2

Supervision