Module Catalogue 2023/24

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To introduce the design and implementation of software systems.

There are factors that we must take into account when designing and implementing software systems that either do not arise in application development or are less critical in application development. These include the longevity of systems compared to applications, agreement on shared abstractions that are often codified in interfaces and standards, and the conservation of resources to maximise their availability to applications. This module gives students an appreciation of such factors and their implications for good design and software development in general.

Operating systems and their extension to networks of systems are used as exemplars. The lessons drawn from their design and implementation are applicable not only to other systems but also to good applications design. The appreciation of their general applicability and the trade-offs involved will inform any future software development students undertake.

The module is directly related to and builds on the Stage 1 module CSC1032 on Computer Systems Design and Architectures.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module is organised into three strands: operating systems, networks of systems and practical systems development work that complements and exemplifies the other two strands.

In operating systems, the focus will be on processes and memory management, scheduling and the need for, and mechanisms to achieve, inter-process communication and concurrency control. In networks we cover the fundamental abstractions presented by the Internet, with a particular focus on achieving reliable communication over an unreliable network of networks.

Specific topics covered in the theoretical strands include:
- the process model and process lifecycle
- process address space and isolation and virtual memory
- process implementation
- scheduling requirements and algorithms
- concurrent execution and mechanisms for data sharing
- the mutual exclusion problem and the implementation of solutions
- network topologies
- network protocols
- network layers and their realisation in TCP/IP
- internetworking and reliable communication

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

To be able to:
• apply the principles and practice of systems design and development
• review and apply the principles and practice of resource sharing and management
• identify, analyse and resolve concurrency problems in practice
• analyse, review and discuss how the Internet works
• distinguish between the various components of a network system and its layers

Intended Skill Outcomes

To be able to:
• formulate problems and identify suitable approaches to solving them
• reason abstractly about the structure and behaviour of software systems
• program at the systems level
• apply concurrency control mechanisms
• analyse the requirements for a network system
• think critically about the layers of abstraction of a software system

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Techniques and theory are presented in lectures and related material and cover core concepts. Additional reading and technical background facilitates systems programming and development. Practical activities and workshops provide students with application experience of the techniques and theories taught, assessed through systems implementation in their project work.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Coursework will assess systems programming and the application of good systems design principles. Formative assessment exercises and quizzes will support learning. Examination will assess understanding of theoretical concepts. Present-in-Person assessment.

N.B. This module has both “Exam Assessment” and “Other Assessment” (e.g. coursework). If the total mark for either assessment falls below 35%, the maximum mark returned for the module will normally be 35%.

General Notes

N/A