KV5035 - Software Architecture

You will learn through lectures, workshops, and independent learning. There will also be a regular, supervised “drop-in” session that will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and gain further support with workshop tasks. When appropriate, examples will be taken from real business and industrial situations. Throughout the module you will be given the opportunity to examine and discuss the application of software architecture concepts in real and simulated situations. During the scheduled workshop and drop-in session staff will be available to provide support and feedback to you. These will be hands-on sessions in Northumbria’s computer labs, which are fully equipped with the latest industry-standard software.

You will be supported by lecturers during the timetabled sessions when you will receive feedback on your work. You can approach staff outside formal teaching sessions to request an appointment to seek advice if required. The University’s eLearning Portal offers remote access to all lecture and seminar materials to reinforce your learning. In addition, the university library offers support for all students through providing electronic resources

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1 – Demonstrate knowledge of approaches to modelling, representing and reasoning about software architectures, and knowledge of major and emerging architectural styles.

MLO2 – Demonstrate knowledge of components (such as packages, libraries, services, layers and resources), their interfaces, and associated quality issues including security.

MLO3 – Demonstrate knowledge of the tools and approaches used to build, maintain and test component-based software systems and for managing quality and risks across the project lifecycle.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO4 – Use architectural patterns and concepts to build a component based system.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5 – Effectively communicate information, arguments and analyses about software using appropriate technical documentation

The module will be assessed using two items of coursework, each worth 50%.

Firstly, you will create technical documentation of a system architecture using appropriate models and approaches. The documentation is limited to 1500 words plus diagrams. This part of the assessment addresses ML01, MLO3, MLO4 and MLO5.

Secondly, you will implement and test a component-based system using different languages, appropriate software libraries and frameworks , structured interfaces (e.g. JSON) and appropriate approaches to security and quality. You must submit well formatted code and configuration files for this system (up to 500 lines, not including library code). You must also submit a short video (max 3 minutes) of you performing component tests (e.g. using a tool such as Postman). This part of the assessment will address MLO1, MLO2, MLO3.

You will receive both informative and confirmatory feedback on your assessments.

There will also be formative assessment and feedback through your work on the course materials. The formative assessment will address all module learning outcomes. The formative assessment will not contribute to your final marks but will be helpful to you when completing the final assessments

N/A

N/A

This module will extend your understanding of software design and development. You will learn how to take a high-level, architectural view of software that equips you for building large-scale, multi-component systems. You will acquire relevant theoretical and practical knowledge for designing and modelling software architecture, and will put this knowledge into practice by implementing a component based system. The module will be highly relevant to and suitable for students with diverse interests including software development, project management and systems thinking.