Software Design and Development - The Preliminary Course

Contents
Acknowledgements
To the teacher
To the student
1. Social and Ethical Issues
	Evolution of software applications
		Command line and graphical user interface (GUI)
		Internet applications
		Spreadsheets and presentation software
	Set 1A
	Intellectual property
		Software licence agreements
		Events that have led to the need for software licence agreements
		Sources of code and license conditions that apply
	Set 1B
	Social context of software design
		Ergonomics
		Ergonomic issues regarding software design
	Set 1C
		Inclusivity
		Privacy
		Required skills in software design and development
	Chapter 1 review
2. Hardware and software
	Elements of a computer system
	Hardware
		The function and operation of hardware within a computer system
		Input
			Keyboard
			Mouse
			Scanner
			Radio frequency identification (RFID)
			Microphone (and sound card)
	Set 2A
		Output
			Screens
				LCD based monitors
				CRT based monitors
				Plasma screens
			Data projectors
			Printers
				Laser printers
				Inkjet printers
			Speakers (and sound card)
	Set 2B
	Storage
		Primary storage
		Secondary storage
			Magnetic storage
			Optical storage
			Flash memory
	Processing and control
	Set 2C
	Software
		Operating system and utilities
			Utilities
		Application software
	Set 2D
	Programming languages
		Generations of programming languages
		Event driven versus sequential approach
		The need for translation
	Set 2E
	The relationship between hardware and software
		How does the hardware process software instructions? (The fetch-execute cycle)
		What occurs when an application is first initiated and run?
		What are the hardware requirements for software?
	Chapter 2 review
3. Software Development Approaches
	Structured approach
	Agile approach
	Prototyping approach
	Set 3A
	Rapid application development (RAD) approach
	End user approach
	Set 3B
	Chapter 3 review
4. Defining and understanding the problem, and planning and designing software solutions
	Introduction to software development
	Defining and understanding the problem
		Understanding the problem
		Identification of inputs and required outputs
		Determining the steps that will solve a problem
	Planning and designing software solutions
		Abstraction/refinement
		Systems modelling tools
			Systems flowcharts
			Data flow diagrams (DFDs)
			Structure charts
	Set 4A
	Data types
		Representing numbers in binary and hexadecimal
	Common data types used in solutions
		Integer
		Floating point (real)
		String
		Boolean
	Set 4B
	Data structures
		One-dimensional array
		Record
		Sequential files
	Data dictionary
	Set 4C
	Structured algorithms
		Methods for representing algorithms
		Control structures
	Set 4D
	Software structure
		Subroutines
		Modularity
	Standard algorithms
		Loading and printing arrays
		Add the contents of an array of numbers
		Processing using sequential files
	Checking algorithms for errors
	Set 4E
	Chapter 4 review
5. Implementing software solutions
	Coding in a programming language
		Metalanguages
	Set 5A
	Coding algorithms and data types
		Statements used to define and use data types
		Statements used to code algorithms, including control structures
	Set 5B
	Error detection and correction techniques
		Types of coding errors
			Syntax errors
			Runtime errors
			Logic errors
		Debugging techniques
			Stubs
			Flags
			Debugging output statements
			Automated debugging tools
	Set 5C
	Commonly executed sections of code
		Developing standard subroutines for reuse
		Combining code from different sources
			Calling modules or subroutines
	Making the same data available to different subroutines and modules
		Sharing variables by altering their scope
		Parameter passing
	Set 5D
	User interface development
		Different perspectives of users and developers
		Consultation with users and/or managers
		Effective user interfaces
			Factors affecting readability
			Prompts and messages
			Consistency of design
	Set 5E
	Documentation
		Documentation for developers
		Documentation for users
	Chapter 5 review
6. Testing and evaluating software solutions
	Test data for checking algorithms and code
		The selection of appropriate test data
		Testing algorithms and coded solutions using test data
			Desk checking an algorithm
			Stepping through a coded solution
	Set 6A
	Evaluating the solution
		Comparing different solutions to the same problem
		Techniques for evaluating design
			Peer checking
			Structured walk through
			Desk checking
		Evaluation of the final solution
			Checking the solution meets the original requirements
			User feedback
			Social and ethical perspective
	Set 6B
	Chapter 6 review
7. Maintaining software solutions
	Reasons for maintaining code
		Changing user requirements
		Upgrading the user interface
		Changes in the data to be processed
		Introduction of new hardware or software
		Changing organisational focus
		Changes in government requirements
		Poorly implemented code
	Inclusion of code from other sources
	Set 7A
	Features in source code that improve its maintainability
		Use of variables or constants instead of literal constants
		Meaningful names for variables, subroutines and modules
		Explanatory comments in the code
		Use of standard control structures
		Appropriate use of white space within source code
		A clear and uncluttered mainline
		One logical task per subroutine
	Understanding source code
		Reading original documentation to understand code
		Reading original algorithms
		Creating algorithms from source code
	Chapter 7 review
8. Developing software solutions
	Sample project
		Defining and understanding the problem
		Identification of inputs, processes and outputs
		Identifying a suitable development approach
		Prototype 1
		Prototype 2
		Prototype 3
		Prototype 4
		Prototype 5
		Final modifications and documentation
	Chapter 8 review
Glossary
Index