Software Engineering -- CS511
Boston University -- Fall 2000

Topics / Schedule

In general, each class session will be divided into three sections:

• A lecture by the instructor for 1-2 hours.
• A presentation by a student team for 30-45 minutes.
• Flexible time for team meetings, guest speakers, etc.

Although it is not required, you might want to set aside the hour after class to continue working with your team.

For reading assignments: SEPA = Software Engineering Practioner's Perspective, RD = Rapid Development, CC= Code Complete.

Sept 7

• Reading assignment -- SEPA 1, RD 7
• Introduction. Overview of the course -- topics, grading, team projects, team assignments, adds/drops, etc.
• Lecture -- What is software engineering? Why does it matter? The state of software engineering.
• Lecture -- Models of software development.
• Team meetings. Choose a project and assign people for early presentation topics.

Sept 14

• Reading assignment -- SEPA 10; RD 14; www.sec.gov/consumer/plaine.htm, preface, chaps 1,3,4,5, skim contents of other chapters for later use.
• Quiz on class preparation
• Lecture -- System analysis, requirements analysis, writing skills

Sept 21

• Reading assignment -- SEPA 13, RD 19, CC 7
• Quiz on class preparation
• Lecture -- Design / architecture
• Class exercise -- outlining project functional specifications

Sept 28

• Reading assignment -- CC 19, 31, 32
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #1 presentation -- Death March Projects
• Lecture -- Programming
• Project deliverable -- Functional specification.
• Recruiting visit -- Sun Microsystems

Oct 5

• Reading assignment -- SEPA 8, 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.6.0, 17.6.3, 18
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #2 presentation -- Licensing of software engineers
• Lecture -- Quality and testing

Oct 12

• Reading assignment -- RD 8, RD 9, SEPA 7.5 - 7.7
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #3 presentation -- Mythical Man Month
• Lecture -- finish quality/testing
• Lecture -- estimating, scheduling, tracking
• Mid-term test review -- You will drive the review. I have not prepared a structured review session. Bring your textbooks and questions. 

Oct 19   (WARNING: There is a lot due this week. You should finish your design specs early, so you have time to study for the midterm.)

• Reading assignment -- SEPA 9
• Mid-term exam
• Team #4 presentation -- Personal Software Process (PSP) model
• Lecture -- Configuration and release management
• Project deliverable -- Design specification.

Oct 26

• Reading assignment --  www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/,
  www.lotus.com/developers/devbase.nsf/articles/doc2000091200,
  www.lotus.com/developers/devbase.nsf/articles/doc2000092902,
  www.lotus.com/developers/devbase.nsf/articles/doc2000092903
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #5 presentation -- Software patents
• Lecture -- Open source development
• 6:15 Recruiting visit -- Cisco Systems, Nancy Dilthey and Ken Seiden

Nov 2

• Reading --  www.sei.cmu.edu/pub/documents/93.reports/pdf/tr24.93.pdf (Read Chapters 1 and 2 in detail, then skim the rest of the document.)
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #6 presentation -- Software as Capital
• Lecture -- Capability Maturity Model
• 6:15 Talk / Recruiting visit -- Motorola, David Amenhauser

Nov 9

• Reading assignment -- RD 16,
  www.gamasutra.com/features/production/061997/recovery_mode.htm
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #7 presentation -- Software testing industry (3rd party testing)
• Lecture -- Risk management
• Lecture -- Turning around troubled projects
• Project deliverable -- Test plan.
• 6:15 Recruiting visit -- Sun, Brendan Murphy, Seth Proctor, Federico ?

Nov 16

• Reading assignment -- SEPA 6, SEPA 29
• Quiz on class preparation
• Team #8 presentation -- Three-tier web application design
• Extra credit presentation -- Lourdes Martinez, comparing Pressman  and Somerville textbooks
• Extra credit presentation -- Greg Fletcher, requirements gathering
• Lecture -- MS Project product demo

Nov 23

Thanksgiving vacation. No class.

Nov 30  

• No reading assignment
• Quiz grade based on class attendance
• Team #9 presentation -- Software re-use
• Extra credit presentation -- Karthi, Fergus O'Connell -- The Silver Bullet
• Extra credit presentation -- Fisher, Linux (history and engineering methods)
• Lecture -- MS Source Safe product demo
• Project deliverable -- Source code, executable program, simple readme to install and run.

Dec 7

• No reading assignment
• Quiz grade based on class attendance
• Team #10 Presentation -- Human risks from poorly engineered software
• Extra credit presentation -- Anjali, function point method of estimating
• Extra credit presentation -- Rena Silberberg, design patterns
• Final exam review -- You will drive the review. Bring your textbooks and questions. 
• ? Lecture -- MS Source Safe product demo
• Project deliverable - Installation, user guide, reference.
• Deadline for extra credit papers.

Dec 14

4:00 -- Final exam

Copyright 2000 by Charles H. Connell Jr.