Software architecture is an important field of IT with a large number of employment opportunities. This unit is the first unit in software architecture for the Faculty. This unit will be part of the Enterprise Architecture specialisation in the MIT. Software architecture is an important area of research for the Faculty; this unit is aligned with our teaching- research nexus.

This is the first version of this unit.

This unit is a technical elective in the Enterprise Architecture specialisation of the MIT.

This is the Faculty's first unit that concentrates on software architecture. It builds on students' knowledge of software development.

Software and systems architecture are important fields in IT with a large number of employment opportunities worldwide. Software architecture is an important area of research for the Faculty. This unit is an important part of the Faculty's research- teaching nexus.

At the completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. understand the role and importance of software architecture
2. understand the importance of software architectural patterns
3. have knowledge of a significant number of software architectural patterns
4. be able to apply software architectural patterns to significant problems
5. have knowledge of recent developments and trends in software architecture

• Knowledge of the importance of software architecture
• Knowledge of the importance of software architectural patterns
• Knowledge of several important software architectural patterns
• Knowledge of trends and developments in software architecture

The application of software architectural patterns to significant problems.

At least one assignment will involve group work.

020305 Systems Analysis and Design

This unit introduces students to the important field of software systems architecture. It provides foundation level knowledge in addition to advanced topics. Emphasis is on software architectural patterns and practises for networked and distributed enterprise applications. The unit outline is as follows:

• Introduction to software architecture
• Examples of software architecture
• Introduction to software architectural patterns
• Significant architectural patterns, including:
  • Layers
  • Broker
  • Gateway
  • Service oriented architecture
  • Data Mapper
  • Proxies
• Applying patterns to enterprise applications
• Recent trends in software systems architecture

This unit introduces students to the important field of software systems architecture. It provides foundation level knowledge in addition to advanced topics. Emphasis is on software architectural patterns and practises for networked and distributed enterprise applications. Students gain practical experience in applying architectural patterns to significant problems.

• Fowler, M., Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture, ISBN: 321127420, Addison Wesley, 2002.
• Hohpe, G., B. Woolf, Enterprise Integration Patterns : Designing, Building, and Deploying Messaging Solutions, ISBN: 0321200683, Addison Wesley, 2003
• Krafzig, D., K. Banke, D. Slama, Enterprise SOA : Service-Oriented Architecture Best Practices,ISBN: 0131465759, Prentice Hall, 2004.

On Campus

2 hours lecture, 2 hours practical laboratory/ tutorial

Objectives 1, 2, 3, and 5: Lecture; Objective 4: Tutorial/ Laboratory

The assessment consists of 60% practical assignments and a final exam that is worth 40% of the final grade. Practical assignments are important so the students get hands on experience in software architecture. Students will apply software architectural patterns to significant problems that are of industrial relevance.

Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 5: Final Exam Objectives 3 and 4: Assignment

2 hours lecture, 2 hours tutorial, 8 hours independent study

2 hours lecture, 100 students

2 hours tutorial

Tutorial in Windows XP laboratory

2 hours lecture, member of staff active in software architecture research

Visual Studio .NET and Java virtual machine with Enterprise Java Beans

Five copies of books listed above

Faculty of IT

None

None