COMPSCI 732 : Software Tools and Techniques

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An advanced course examining research issues related to tools and techniques for software design and development. Topics include: techniques for data mapping and data integration, software architectures for developing software tools, issues in advanced database systems. Recommended preparation: COMPSCI 331 or SOFTENG 325 or COMPSCI 718 and 719

Course Overview

State-of-the-art software development, particularly in teams, requires the use of advanced tools to deliver high-quality software across the many platforms that we encounter today.  It is characterized by a wide variety of techniques ranging from formal to informal, from automated to manual operations and covering programs as well as data. In industry, there is an increasing demand to apply recent research to software development tools. This course has a lecture component and a group project component which work together to give a broad picture of current software development and data management tool research. The group projects are often exploring a novel take on interesting problems and offer both an authentic application of software development practices and an opportunity to deliver an exciting result.

Course Requirements

Restriction: SOFTENG 750

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Create a project deliverable of reasonable size and complexity, in a team. (Capability 3, 5 and 7)
  2. Demonstrate state-of-the-art software development skills using powerful tools and delivering platform-independent results. (Capability 3)
  3. Apply advanced concepts in software development based on recent research to larger software development projects. (Capability 5)
  4. Analyse software projects at various stages of development with advanced tools and methods. (Capability 3)
  5. Communicate strengths and issues of software development projects to technical and non-technical audiences. (Capability 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Indivdual work 40% Individual Coursework
Group work 40% Group Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Indivdual work
Group work
Test

Special Requirements

Consistent participation in group work is required. During the last three weeks of semesters, group presentations will be scheduled in the evenings. Teams will have the opportunity to pick their own timeslot, on a first-come-first-served basis.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the group presentations.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

This course deals with very recent advances in software development,  all required material learning is provided as lecture material and comprehensive Canvas content.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

In 2024, the course was extremely well-received. For 2025, I will continue to keep the material up-to-date and industry relevant, including additional highly useful frameworks such as Next.js and updating to the latest React version. I will also run slightly more "code-along" demos as these were very popular. Finally, I will schedule a group teambuilding exercise in the first couple of weeks, for those struggling to find teammates.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.