SOFTENG 254 : Quality Assurance

Engineering

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Software verification and validation. Static and dynamic QA activities as part of the software lifecycle. Unit, integration, system, and usability testing. Use of visual notations, automation, and tools to support development activities. Metrics to quantify strength of testing and complexity of programs.

Course Overview

This course begins the organised exploration of the concept of “quality”, and how it applies to software engineering. This is not the first software engineering course that has addressed quality, nor will it be the last, but unlike the other courses, quality will be the principle focus in this course. 

Quality has been described as a “multifaceted” concept, which basically means that it means different things to different people. The situation is even more complicated for software quality. Early in the history of software development, software quality typically meant only “fitness of purpose” (did not fail), whereas now it also includes many other properties such as usability, maintainability, or good security. As attempts were made to be systematic about software quality, concepts from the manufacturing industry were adopted into software development, and so software quality came to mean “developed with a good development process”, whereas now the manufacturing 
concepts are known to be not always a good fit.

The main goal of SOFTENG 254 will be to provide exposure to the main ideas that are typically associated with software quality. The two main themes will be software testing, that is, executing code in such a way as to detect as many defects as is feasible, and tool support for assuring quality, that is, becoming familiar with many of the standard kinds of tools that are used to develop software of good quality. A number of other software quality-related topics will also be covered, but at a more superficial level. These include: software development 
life-cycle, software development processes, software process improvement, and software metrics.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: SOFTENG 250, 251

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the main concepts associated with software quality (Capability 1.1)
  2. Construct a test suite (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
  3. assess the quality of a test suite (Capability 2.1 and 2.2)
  4. Describe some basic software metrics and explain their applicability (Capability 1.1)
  5. Explain the software life-cycle and describe the important concepts of software development processes (Capability 1.1)
  6. describe and use important concepts of software modelling (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
  7. describe the key aspects of and demonstrate the use of tools such as integrated development environments, build tools and version control systems (Capability 1.1)
  8. Explain the issues associated with defect measurement and tracking (Capability 1.1)
  9. describe the fundamental concepts of program code generation and construct basic code generators (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
  10. Describe and apply fundamental coding principles (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Assignments
Test
Final Exam

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.

Learning Resources

Will be updated later via Canvas.

Digital 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.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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.

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.

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 at 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.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester 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 and respond with summaries and actions.

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

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

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.