Module Details

Module Code: SOFT8027
Title: Cloud Software Engineering
Long Title: Cloud Software Engineering
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2017/18 ( September 2017 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 10
Field of Study: 4814 - Computer Software
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This is an integrated module where students learn about the end-to-end design, development and deployment of applications for the cloud using software development frameworks and modern software development principles, practices and processes.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Design scalable enterprise / cloud applications using a layered architecture.
LO2 Configure and develop an application using inversion of control and dependency injection mechanisms.
LO3 Develop applications using agile practices and processes.
LO4 Access relational and NOSQL databases using data mapping techniques.
LO5 Manage a software development project through its lifecycle using agile and lean project management techniques.
LO6 Develop secure, scalable web applications using a framework.
LO7 Employ enterprise integration mechanisms, such as messaging or web services.
LO8 Deploy applications to a cloud platform-as-a-service.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Core Framework Concepts
Overview of frameworks; Inversion of control; Dependency injection; Lightweight containers, such as Spring; RAD frameworks such as Laravel for PHP or Ruby on Rails; Object lifecycle management; Simplifying application configuration; Convention over configuration; Approaches to abstracting complexity, such as the template method pattern; Testability.
Scalable Enterprise Architecture
Separation of concerns; Architectural layering and partitioning; design principles, such as single-responsibility, designing for reusability, loose coupling, cohesive modules; Distribution with Messaging and REST.
Data Access Technologies
Object-to-relational mapping (ORM), such as JPA and ActiveRecord; Traditional database access APIs, such as JDBC and PDO; Accessing NOSQL databases; The Data Access Object (DAO), Repository, Data Mapper and Active Record patterns; Simplifying data access technologies with frameworks; Transaction management.
Testing Framework Applications
Test-Driven Development (TDD); Unit test frameworks, such as JUnit and PHPUnit; Stubbing and mocking libraries, such as Mockito and Mockery; Strategies for maintaining consistent data / test cases using in-memory databases and seeding.
Web Application Frameworks
Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern; Overview of MVC frameworks; Handling access to routes using controllers; Templating / layout engines, such as Thymeleaf and Apache Tiles, Laravel's Blade; Form-Model binding; Form validation libraries; Internationalization.
Security
Authentication and authorization strategies; Implementation of security in a web application; Security filters applied to routes / request mappings.
Agile Software Engineering
The agile manifesto; Extreme programming; Refactoring; Continuous integration / delivery / deployment; DevOps; Scrum overview; Project backlog planning; Sprint planning; Scrum tools, such as JIRA Agile; Distributed version control systems, such as Git.
Cloud Deployment
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and its place in the cloud stack; evaluating PaaS options; Deploying to a PaaS.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Short Answer Questions % of Total Mark 10
Timing Week 4 Learning Outcomes 1,2
Assessment Description
An examination of core framework and software development concepts presented in class.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 30
Timing Week 6 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
A small-scale database-driven application is developed using a framework and agile development practices.
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 10
Timing Week 8 Learning Outcomes 1,5
Assessment Description
Interim document outlining progress in the early stages of a software development project, including draft design and Scrum product backlog. Scrum teams will be formed prior to this assessment and students will work and be assessed as part of a team.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 50
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Assessment Description
Implementation of a secure, scalable cloud-based application as part of an agile Scrum team, using advanced software engineering techniques. Both self and peer assessment will be employed to ensure that a fair mark that reflects student input is given to each team member.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures covering the theoretical aspects of cloud software engineering. Every Week 4.00 4
Lab Contact Labs with exercises and supervision of project work. Every Week 4.00 4
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent research and assigned readings. Every Week 6.00 6
Total Hours 14.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 14.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 8.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures covering the theoretical aspects of cloud software engineering. Every Week 4.00 4
Lab Contact Labs with exercises and supervision of project work. Every Week 4.00 4
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent research and assigned readings. Every Week 6.00 6
Total Hours 14.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 14.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 8.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Craig Walls. (2014), Spring in Action, 4th Edition. Manning Publications, [ISBN: 9781617291203].
  • Andrew Stellman, Jennifer Greene. (2014), Learning Agile: Understanding Scrum, XP, Lean, and Kanban, O'Reilly Media, [ISBN: 9781449331924].
  • Jez Humble and David Farley. (2010), Continuous Delivery: Reliable Software Releases Through Build, Test, and Deployment Automation, 1st Edition. Addison Wesley, [ISBN: 9780321601919].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Martin Fowler. (2002), Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture, 1st Edition. Addison Wesley, [ISBN: 9780321127426].
  • Kent Beck. (2002), Test-Driven Development: By Example, 1st Edition. Addison Wesley, [ISBN: 9780321146533].
  • Irakli Nadareishvili et al.. (2016), Microservice Architecture: Aligning Principles, Practices, and Culture, O'Reilly, [ISBN: 9781491956250].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_KCMSD_8 Higher Diploma in Science in Cloud & Mobile Software Development 2 Mandatory