Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2021 - CMPT 479 D200

Special Topics in Computing Systems (3)

Software Engineering

Class Number: 8148

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Mon, Wed, Fri, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 21, 2021
    Wed, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 300.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Current topics in computing systems depending on faculty and student interest.

COURSE DETAILS:

How can we create software that is maintainable, reliable, and secure? How can we treat software systems as subjects for analysis? How can we automate challenging tasks like finding vulnerabilities or even programming itself? This course examines both classic and cutting edge answers to these software engineering questions. This course will explore modern aspects of software engineering including design, reliability, performance, and security. Beyond manual design and programming issues, students will gain experience with techniques for automating aspects of software engineering and treating programs themselves as data that can be analyzed, transformed, or automatically generated. The material will be hands-on, with several small projects in a variety of programming languages throughout the semester. Students are expected to learn core techniques used in program analysis and to ultimately apply them. Students will also be expected to complete a term project in a direction of their choice based on material from the course. The term project will involve building a tool that automates some useful analysis/task within software engineering. Introductory projects will involve programming in C++. Term projects can be done using a language of student preference. Students should have completed CMPT 300 before enrolling. CMPT 379 is recommended but not required.

Topics

  • Classic design and architecture
  • Performance analysis
  • Static and dynamic program analysis
  • Software security (offense and defense)
  • Automated debugging & defect investigation
  • Automated program synthesis
  • Automated test generation
  • Concurrency and parallelism

Grading

NOTES:

 

Assignments: 50% Exams: 25% Term Project: 25% Grading criteria are subject to change.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Reference Books

  • Working Effectively with Legacy Code, Feathers, Michael, Prentice Hall, 9780131177055
  • Principles of Program Analysis, Nielson, Flemming, Nielson, Hanne R., Hankin, Chris, Springer, 9783642084744
  • Engineering a Compiler, Cooper, Keith, Torczon, Linda, Elsevier Science & Technology Books, 9780120884780
  • Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems, Anderson, Ross J., Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 9780470068526
  • Writing Solid Code 2nd Edition, Maquire, Steve, Greyden Press, 9781570740558

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).