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Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data

The course is intended for individuals looking to understand the basics of software engineering as they relate to building large software systems that leverage big data. You will be introduced to software engineering concepts necessary to build and scale large, data intensive, distributed systems. Starting with software engineering best practices and loosely coupled, highly cohesive data microservices, the course takes you through the evolution of a distributed system over time.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s MS in Data Science or MS in Computer Science degrees offered on the Coursera platform. These fully accredited graduate degrees offer targeted courses, short 8-week sessions, and pay-as-you-go tuition. Admission is based on performance in three preliminary courses, not academic history. CU degrees on Coursera are ideal for recent graduates or working professionals. Learn more:

MS in Data Science: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/master-of-science-data-science-boulder

MS in Computer Science: https://coursera.org/degrees/ms-computer-science-boulder

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What's inside

Syllabus

Software Engineering Overview

Welcome to Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data. In the first week of this course, you will learn the basics of modern software engineering. You will learn how our industry progresses over time, practice test driven development, and implement widely used data structures.

Fundamentals of Software Architecture

In this week you will learn the fundamentals of software architecture. You will learn how to evolve an architecture over time, how to work within a large codebase, and a bit about blockchain.

Fundamentals of Production Software

This week you will learn the fundamentals of monitoring software in production. You will learn how to create reliable background jobs, how to calculate and communicate service availability, and how to implement production metrics and monitoring.

Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data

In this last week of the course, you will learn the fundamentals of production quality databases and messaging systems. You will understand the tradeoffs between consistency and availability, how to implement database transactions to improve consistency, and how to implement messaging systems to improve availability.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Learners will gain a solid grasp of software engineering principles, particularly as they relate to data science and computer science fields

Focuses on how software architecture evolves over time and may be modified to meet modern demands, such as blockchain

Introduces students to best practice in monitoring software in production environments

Provides a strong foundation for learners moving from theoretical knowledge of software engineering to implementation in real-world scenarios

Concepts like data microservices, loosely coupled architecture, and blockchain have high relevance to the industry today

Teaches essential skills in data structures, test driven development and working within large codebases

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data with these activities:

Read "Designing Data-Intensive Applications"

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and techniques used in designing and building data-intensive applications.

View Secret Colors on Amazon

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Read the book cover-to-cover.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Work through the exercises.

Create a software design document

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Creating a software design document will help you solidify your understanding of software architecture principles and best practices.

Browse courses on Software Design

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Identify the system's requirements.
Create a high-level design.
Develop a detailed design.
Document your design.

Follow a tutorial on building a data pipeline

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Following a tutorial on building a data pipeline will help you gain practical experience with the tools and techniques used in big data systems.

Browse courses on Data Pipelines

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Find a tutorial that is appropriate for your skill level.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
Test your pipeline to ensure that it is working correctly.

Four other activities

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Practice solving LeetCode-style coding problems

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Solving LeetCode-style coding problems will help you improve your problem-solving and coding skills.

Browse courses on Data Structures

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Find a set of LeetCode problems that are appropriate for your skill level.
Solve the problems.
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Join a study group with other students in the course

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Participating in a study group will help you connect with other students and learn from their experiences.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Find a study group that meets your needs.
Participate in the study group regularly.
Contribute to the group's discussions.

Build a data-driven web application

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Building a data-driven web application will help you apply the concepts you have learned in the course to a real-world project.

Browse courses on Web Development

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Decide on the scope of your project.
Gather the necessary data.
Design and develop your web application.

Mentor a newer student in the course

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Mentoring a newer student will help you solidify your understanding of the course material and develop your leadership skills.

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Find a newer student who is willing to be mentored.
Meet with your mentee regularly.
Provide guidance and support.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Architect

Software Architects design, build, and maintain the software systems that power modern businesses. They work closely with engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that systems are scalable, reliable, and secure. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful Software Architect. This course will teach you about the principles of software architecture, how to design and implement distributed systems, and how to manage and monitor software in production. This specialized knowledge can be highly sought-after in this particular role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Data Architect

Data Architects design and manage the data systems that businesses use to store and analyze data. They work closely with business stakeholders to understand their data needs and then design systems that can meet those needs. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful Data Architect. This course will teach you about the principles of data architecture, how to design and implement data systems, and how to manage and monitor data in production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Architect

Big Data Engineer

Big Data Engineers work with big data technologies to design, build, and maintain data systems. They work closely with data scientists and other stakeholders to ensure that data systems are scalable, reliable, and secure. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful Big Data Engineer. This course will teach you about the principles of software architecture, how to design and implement distributed systems, and how to manage and monitor software in production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Big Data Engineer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain the databases that businesses use to store data. They work closely with database engineers and other stakeholders to ensure that databases are available, reliable, and secure. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful Database Administrator. This course will teach you about the principles of database management, how to design and implement databases, and how to manage and monitor databases in production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, build, and maintain software systems. They work closely with other engineers and stakeholders to ensure that software is scalable, reliable, and secure. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful Software Engineer. This course will teach you about the principles of software engineering, how to design and implement software systems, and how to manage and monitor software in production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. They work closely with other stakeholders to understand business needs and then use data to develop solutions. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course may be useful for Data Scientists who want to learn more about the principles of software architecture and how to design and implement data systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Product Manager

Product Managers work with engineers and other stakeholders to define, design, and build products. They work closely with customers to understand their needs and then work with engineers to develop products that meet those needs. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course may be useful for Product Managers who want to learn more about the principles of software architecture and how to design and implement software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They work closely with stakeholders to understand business needs and then develop solutions that meet those needs. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to learn more about the principles of software architecture and how to design and implement software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects. They work closely with stakeholders to define project scope, timelines, and budgets. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course may be useful for Project Managers who want to learn more about the principles of software architecture and how to design and implement software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and other technical products. They work closely with engineers and other stakeholders to understand the product and then create documentation that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. The Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn more about the principles of software architecture and how to design and implement software systems.

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Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data.

Building Microservices

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Widely acclaimed in the industry, this book has become a must-have resource for building microservices architecturally. It offers a detailed explanation of designing, building, and deploying microservice-based applications.

Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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