Module Details

Module Code: COMP7047
Title: Open Source Projects
Long Title: Open Source Projects
NFQ Level: Intermediate
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2017/18 ( September 2017 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 15
Field of Study: 4811 - Computer Science
Module Delivered in: 6 programme(s)
Module Description: Open source projects promote transparency and collaboration by making the source code, documentation and other elements of the project available providing better understanding on how the project or software works. Individuals can contribute to the project by fixing bugs, adding new features, fixing documentation and making changes to the project. In this module, students will contribute to an open source project. As part of this community or project they will learn how typical open source projects are structured and will make contributions to the project by raising issues, fixing bugs, testing, documenting or suggesting new features.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Discuss the underlying principles and the benefits of contributing to open source projects.
LO2 Understand the typical structure of an open source project by identifying: the community owner, maintainers, contributors and members; the documentation; and licencing.
LO3 Evaluate various open source projects and select an open source project to contribute to.
LO4 Identify how to contribute and connect to the open source project and workflow procedures to enable contribution.
LO5 Use tools for contributing to open source projects allowing changes to be made without affecting the original open source project.
LO6 Contribute to the open source community by writing software, documentation or scripts that interacts with the existing open source systems.
LO7 Work collaboratively with fellow students and members of the open source project by contributing to the project in a meaningful way.
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
Open Source Projects
What are open source projects and software. Advantages and disadvantages of open source. Licencing of open source projects. Code of conduct. Differences between open source project and other types of projects. Licencing - BSD, GPL, LGPL, MIT, Apache, MPL. Markdown and open licencing. How open source is been used as a recruitment tool for companies i.e. Facebook, Twitter etc.
Contribution methods to Open source projects
Bug reports. Feature requests. Software testing. Documentation writing i.e. wiki pages, FAQ etc. Translation of user interface. Forums and mailing lists. Design tasks - logo, website, interfaces. Project promotion. Bug fixing. Feature Development.
Structure of Open Source Projects
Participants in the community - community owner, maintainers, contributors, members. Common files that exist in every Open source project - readme.md, licence.md, contributing.md. Workflow procedures to contribute to community.
Selecting an Open Source Project
Categories of open source projects. Criteria to consider when choosing an open source project to contribute to. Examples of Open Source Projects which include software and non software projects- Redis, React.js, node.js, bower, Grunt, Firefox, MongoDB, Android, Git, Linux, Bash etc.
Connecting with Open Source Communities
Moznet, Freenode, irccloud, channels for communication. Rules of communication. Code of conduct.
Contributing to Open Source Projects
Workflow procedures to contribute to community - create a repository, forking, branching, code/documentation/script writing, committing, pulling, rebasing. Typical command line tools and Integrated Development Environments (IDE) - GitHub, Git, Bash, Subversion, pip, virtualenv etc. Selecting a existing bug, identifying a bug, propose and develop a feature.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Short Answer Questions % of Total Mark 20
Timing Week 3 Learning Outcomes 1,2
Assessment Description
The students would be assessed on the theoretical elements presented in the module.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 20
Timing Week 5 Learning Outcomes 3,4
Assessment Description
In this report the students would be expected to evaluate various open source projects and will select an open source project to contribute to, bearing in mind their own technical skill set and interests. In addition, they will have identified how to connect and communicate with their selected open source project.
Assessment Type Reflective Journal % of Total Mark 20
Timing Every Week Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Assessment Description
The student will reflect on their experience of learning about open source communities and their journey as novice contributor.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 20
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Assessment Description
The student will employ tools, identify the contribution workflow and using this workflow will contribute to an open source community by fixing bugs, development of source or document or scripts etc.
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 20
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Assessment Description
The students will demo their project and will present their contribution to the peers and lecturer.
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 Lecture underpinning learning outcomes. Every Week 2.00 2
Lab Contact Lab supporting content delivered in class. Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Independent Study. Every Week 17.00 17
Total Hours 21.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 21.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
This module has no Part Time workload.
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Simon Phipps. (2012), Open Source Strategies for the Enterprise, O'Reilly Media, [ISBN: 9781449341176].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Ivan Cibrario Bertolotti, Tingting Hu. (2015), Embedded Software Development: The Open-Source Approach, CRC Press, [ISBN: 9781466593923].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_KSDEV_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Software Development 6 Group Elective 3
CR_KDNET_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Systems 6 Group Elective 3
CR_KITMN_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in IT Management 6 Group Elective 3
CR_KWEBD_8 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Web Development 6 Group Elective 3
CR_KITSP_7 Bachelor of Science in Information Technology 6 Group Elective 3
CR_KCOMP_7 Bachelor of Science in Software Development 6 Group Elective 3