Systematic Design

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Understand the importance of defining clear APIs and component boundaries
• Understanding of tools (both processes and software) for managing group-work
• Knowledge of best-practises for managing small group projects and identifying risks

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify appropriate languages for implementing parts of a system
• Understand the tradeoffs between off-the-shelf and bespoke components
• Decompose a system into a set of loosely coupled components
• Define APIs and interfaces between components
• Identify ethical and security responsibilities with respect to data in motion and at rest.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use test frameworks to perform integration tests for existing components

Analysing systems

• Functional and non-functional requirements
• Requirements gathering
• System architecture

Designing systems

• Decomposing into blocks
• Identifying interfaces
• Designing APIs and protocols
• Integrating libraries and IP
• Formal specification

Testing systems

• Build systems
• Continuous integration (both hw and sw)
• Testing hardware+software+network systems
• Formal verification

Managing development

• Development methodologies
• Project management
• Advanced source control (e.g. review, bots, …)

Lectures, labs and guided self-study

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.