SOFTENG 283 : Software Quality Assurance

Engineering

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Software verification and validation. Static and dynamic quality assurance activities as part of the software lifecycle. Unit, integration, system, and usability testing. Metrics to quantify strength of testing and complexity of programs. Techniques for engineering of software systems including requirements, specification, validation, verification. Modelling paradigms including information, behaviour, domain, function and constraint models. Specification languages.

Course Overview

This course will delve into various software quality topics. The course takes a holistic view of software quality considering both building the right software and building the software right. First, to learn about building the right software we will focus on understanding software requirements elicitation, specification, analysis, validation, and verification. Next, the course considers building the software right with a focus on code quality and software testing. In addition, we will cover important tools to aid in maintaining software quality like version control and bug trackers. 

The course will include individual and group coursework, an online quiz, and a final exam. The coursework will consist of a series of assignments on each of the topics and online readings, group discussions, and reflections.  

The lectures will be interactive. You can expect hands-on activities, tutorials, and discussions to help reinforce the course concepts. Key topics include: 
  • Introduction to software quality
  • Tools for maintaining software quality (version control, bug tracking)
  • Requirements Elicitation, Analysis, Specification, Validation, Management, and Verification
  • Code conventions, code readability, and software metrics
  • Testing techniques, testing metrics
  • Unit, Integration, System, Acceptance, and Usability Testing

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMPSYS 202 or SOFTENG 251 or 281 Restriction: SOFTENG 254

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the main concepts associated with software quality (Capability 3.2)
  2. Construct a test suite (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  3. Assess the quality of a test suite (Capability 3.2)
  4. Describe and understand software code quality principles including software metrics, code readability, and coding conventions (Capability 3.1)
  5. Explain and apply software requirements techniques including elicitation, specification, verification, and validation (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 6.1)
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of tools for maintaining software quality including version control and bug tracking tools (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  7. Explain the issues associated with defect measurement and tracking (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 37.5% Group & Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Quizzes 7.5% Individual Test
Readings/Reflection 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Assignments
Final Exam
Quizzes
Readings/Reflection

Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.

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. For each week in this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures and 7 hours of work on assignments and/or quiz and exam preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures will be available as recordings. 
The course may include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
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.

There is no required textbook. Readings for the course will be made available on Canvas.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

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.

In 2023, some of the coursework will be revised based on student feedback from 2022. 

Other Information

Where to get help: Questions should be asked on Piazza, during lectures, or in office hours. Lecturers can also be contacted via email. Please note that responses should only be expected during normal business hours.

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Diversity: We embrace diversity of age, background, beliefs, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, and other visible and non-visible categories. The teaching team and the University of Auckland have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination. If you experience or know of discrimination, you have many options for support and/or reporting; see https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/about-the-university/equity-at-the-university/about-equity/zero-tolerance-for-discrimination.html. You are also welcome to contact the teaching team with concerns.

Names/Pronouns: You deserve to be addressed in the manner you prefer. To help the teaching team address you properly, you are welcome to tell us your pronoun(s) and/or preferred name at any time, either in person or via email.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.