Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2025 - CMPT 479 D200

Special Topics in Computing Systems (3)

Software Engineering

Class Number: 4968

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 8, 2025: Mon, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 21, 2025
    Thu, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 201 or CMPT 300, with a minimum grade of C-.

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 Python, Java, and C++. Term projects can be done using a language of student preference. Students should have completed CMPT 201 and 276 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 test generation
  • Concurrency and parallelism

Grading

NOTES:

 

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

Students must attain a C- or better on the final exam in the course in order to obtain a C- or better in the class.

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

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.