Unit 6: Software Design and Development

Overall Aims

The aim of this module is to provide resources that can be used to support the learning aims of the BTEC National Diploma in IT, Unit 6 Software Design and Development

Know the features of programming languages
Understand the principles of software design
Be able to use tools to demonstrate software design

Assessments

03/11/2014: Assessment 1 - Which Language?
- P3: Take an Online Test
- P4: Take an Online Test
28/11/2014: Assessment 2 - Application Design
- P5: Take an Online Test
An Example Submission for Assessment 2 - Task 2
Student Survey on Unit 6
Student Survey Results

Assessment Criteria

P1: describe the application and limits of procedural, object oriented and event driven programming paradigms BTEC: What is a Program	P2: describe the factors influencing the choice of programming language BTEC: Choosing a Language BTEC: Types of Languages DP: Software Development
P3: explain sequence, selection and iteration as used in computer programming DP: Selection in C# DP: Repetition in C#	P4: outline the benefits of having a variety of data types available to the programmer MSDN: C# Data Types DP: Example Table of Data Types
P5: explain the role of software design principles and software structures in the IT systems development lifecycle BTEC: Software Development Lifecycle BTEC: Software Structures DP: Software Development MSDN: Software Architecture MSDN: Design Principles SMc: Code Complete Book: Code Complete	P6: use appropriate tools to design a solution to a defined requirement DP: Use Case Diagrams DP: Use Case Specifications JF: Storyboards Activity Diagrams Class Diagrams Sequence Diagrams

Grading Criteria

A number of the resources quoted above are also good sources for addressing the grafing criteria. In particular Steve McConnall book Code Complete 2 which is highly regarded by professional programmers. However it is 850 pages long and will be difficult to extract a good summary for M1 and D1.

The following shorter resources may help, but for the grading criteria you are encourages to find your own sources, and to reference them in your answers. Wikipedia should be ragarded as a starting point, but not used as an authorative reference.

M1: Explain the importance of the quality of code BTEC: Good Practice Key Principles in Software Architecture	D1: Discuss the factors that can improve the readability of code Best Practices Writing Readable Code
M2: Justify the choice of data types and software structures used in a design solution BTEC: Software Structures AK: Data Types Presentation Use your own software design	D2: Develop algorithms to represent a design solution The Basics of Pseudocode Creating Activity Diagrams

You need to use Pseudocode to develop an algorithm for your chosen design. e.g. how the zombies are going to chase you, or how the waiter enters a pizza order. An example will be demonstrated in class.