Software Development for the Web

1. Software Development for the Web Paul Roe Queensland University of Technology

2. Brisbane Background • Queensland University of Technology (QUT) • One of largest in Australia: 30,000 students (u/g, p/g, 10% international) • Strong links with industry eg Microsoft

3. Faculty of IT • FIT leading provider of IT courses in Australia • 2000 students, with 25 percent international • Main undergraduate course: Bachelor of Information Technology • Research experience with .NET  New elective unit: Software Development for Web

4. Objectives • Understand issues of s/w dev for web • Different from PC s/w dev. • Client server • State management • N-tier architecture, data access • Security, performance, etc. • Teach standard technology e.g. HTTP, HTML, XML, web services • Give students experience with .NET, particularly ASP.NET

5. Prerequisites • Java • Intermediate level object oriented programming • Basic HTML • Basic databases / SQL

6. Reference Material • Text book: “Understanding .NET: A Tutorial and Analysis” David Chappell, Addison Wesley • Visual Studio and SDK doco • Walk throughs • Tutorials • Reference • Web, particularly for generic technology: HTTP, HTML, XML • MSDN AA notes

7. Structure • 2-3 hours lecture & 1 hour prac X 13 weeks • Lectures • Web basics, HTTP, HTML, CGI, ActiveX, ASP/JSP • .NET basics: CLR, C#, VS.NET • ASP.NET • ADO.NET, N-tier architecture • Security • XML, web services • Real world issues • New developments: UDDI, P2P, GXA • Assessment: 35% assignment, 65% exam

8. Lectures • Started with a historical perspective of web’s evolution • Most lectures mix of • Theory/conceptual material • Standard web technology such as HTTP, HTML, XML • .NET • Demos • Some discussion of alternative approaches

9. Guest Lectures • Three guest lectures from Microsoft • ASP.NET • ADO.NET • Real world issues • MS partner speaker from Queensland Rail • localization, performance tuning, error handling, project management

10. Assignment • Pizza ordering system for work group • “Here’s one I made earlier” • Incorporate some web services and other issues • Required: ASP.NET, ADO.NET, data base • Emphasized simple and elegant design

11. Assignment Constraints • Work in pairs • Only use ASP.NET and C# • Use at least one custom web control • Use code behind and minimal inline program code

12. Lab Setup • Students developed and tested code on individual machines • Machine configuration • Windows 2000 Professional • Internet Explorer • Visual Studio.NET Professional • IIS • SQL Server Personal Edition

13. MSDN Academic Alliance • Program enabled us to distribute copies of Win XP and VS.NET for students to use on home machines • Important – most students work on assignment at home • Also includes lots of useful additional documentation • Difficult to run this unit without this program

14. Ok so what happened? • Lots of interest from students • Estimated class size 40-50, got 200, and most stayed the duration! • Lot of material to cover • Made good use of MSDN AA program • Assignments • mixture some excellent, some average • prizes for best ones • Marking very time consuming • Guest lectures went really well • Better student behaviour and participation than for academics!

15. Best Assignment

16. Best Assignment

17. Best Assignment

18. Next time • Give an existing system (eg IBuySpy), make modifications • Study a good system • Easier marking • No need to bake one ourselves • Minor restructure • Use guest lectures for how to’s, demos and real world experience • Pay attention to systems admin issues • Have server to deploy final system

19. Finally thanks to… • Microsoft for MSDN Academic Alliance - excellent program • Guest lecturers • Microsoft Australia (Geoff Clarke, Matt Hardman, Ed Tse) • Queensland Rail (Adam Webber)