Introduction to Software Development and Applications from Coursera

The primary objectives of this course are to introduce software engineering techniques and their application to real-world business problems. You will be equipped with practical design and programming techniques for the purpose of modeling significant business applications quickly.

In a step-by-step manner, the instructor will take you through the process of systematically combining object-oriented programming techniques, business processes, and complex data models to assemble models that are user friendly and meet business requirements.

You will learn how to employ systems thinking, the object-oriented paradigm, the visual programming technique, as well as productivity tools to put together complicated, powerful designs. We will practice simple and smart ways of making software programming enjoyable.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to the Software Development Cycle and Applications

In this first module of the course, we will begin with focusing on a general overview of the Software Development Life cycle. It is important as you explore and learn about development, that you understand how the skills learned in this course can translate into your current and future professional experiences. As developers, it is important to reflect on managing user expectations and understanding user needs - which may take several iterations of design and development to completely understand. This is why we focus on iterative development instead of a waterflow approach. We will learn more about these approaches and the key phases of the development lifecycle in this module. Then we will dive into exploring software applications and the need to anticipate risk, the potential for problems, and how to transform the software lifecycle into an actual application. We will learn more about the different components and algorithms in systems and review different real-world examples of the necessary connection between social and application systems. The most important thing to keep in mind is that there is always a social problem that must be solved and that is the key to developing effective application systems.

Application Design Principles

This module, we will begin exploring the design principles associated with designing application systems. the video delves into the challenges faced by modern hospitals due to the complexity of patient movements throughout the day. In this module we will explore how adopting a system view in software engineering can offer innovative solutions to enhance patient care and address these critical issues.

Object-Oriented Programming

This module, we will dive deeper into exploring how relationships are intertwined in application development, now focusing on an important component of application system design: the object-oriented paradigm, or OOP. We will learn about different component structures and the relationships between objects, structures, attributes, and behaviors. We will reflect on the complexities of the OOP and how it differs from simple algorithm creation.

Business Design Principles

This module, we will explore the connection between businesses and web application development, focusing on the importance of understanding successful enterprises. Exploring the fundamental principles of their operations, we will reflect on how business design plays a pivotal role in shaping software code and digital design. By examining the customer-centric approach of these companies and the emphasis on prioritizing customer experience, we explore key insights on how to create efficient and user-friendly applications with simple code. In this module you will also begin applying what you are learning about business design principles in a lab assignment that focuses on evaluating a campus build model.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Delves into advanced concepts such as system thinking, object-oriented paradigm, visual programming, and productivity tools

Provides a comprehensive understanding of the software development lifecycle, from design and programming to deployment

Focuses on the practical application of software engineering techniques to solve real-world business problems

Taught by experienced instructors, Kal Bugrara, who have a proven track record in the field of software engineering

Emphasizes the importance of user experience and iterative development in the design process

May require students to have some prior experience in programming or software development

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 Introduction to Software Development and Applications with these activities:

Join a study group for collaborative learning

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Engage with peers to discuss course concepts, share knowledge, and support each other's learning.

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Find a study group or create one with classmates
Meet regularly to discuss course material

Read 'Clean Code'

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Gain insights into best practices for writing clean and maintainable code.

View Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software... on Amazon

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Read the book
Apply the principles to your own coding projects

Follow tutorials on system design

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Enhance your understanding of system design principles and best practices through guided tutorials.

Browse courses on Systems Thinking

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Identify tutorials on system design
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises

Four other activities

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Practice coding challenges

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Reinforce your understanding of software engineering concepts by solving coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.

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Identify a coding challenge platform
Start solving coding challenges regularly

Build a simple software application

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Apply your knowledge by creating a functional software application that addresses a real-world problem.

Browse courses on Software Development

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Identify a problem to solve
Design and develop the application
Test and deploy the application

Develop a business plan for a software product

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Apply your knowledge of software engineering and business principles to create a comprehensive business plan for a software product.

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Define the product concept and target market
Develop a business model and revenue strategy
Create a marketing and sales plan

Participate in a hackathon

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Challenge yourself and apply your skills in a real-world setting by participating in a hackathon focused on software engineering.

Browse courses on Software Development

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Find a hackathon and form a team
Develop a software solution within the hackathon timeline
Present your solution and compete for prizes

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Software Development and Applications will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Architect

A Software Architect designs the overall architecture of software systems, ensuring that they are efficient, reliable, and scalable. This course introduces you to software engineering techniques, including object-oriented programming, systems thinking, and visual programming, which are essential for designing and developing complex software systems. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Software Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course provides you with a solid foundation in software engineering principles and practices, including object-oriented programming, data modeling, and design patterns. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Software Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs and develops websites and web applications. This course introduces you to the principles of web development, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Web Developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases. This course introduces you to the principles of database management, including data modeling, database design, and query optimization. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Database Administrator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst analyzes and designs business systems. This course introduces you to the principles of systems analysis and design, including requirements gathering, process modeling, and data analysis. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Systems Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Project Manager

A Project Manager plans and executes software development projects. This course introduces you to the principles of project management, including project planning, risk management, and quality control. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Project Manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates and maintains documentation for software systems. This course introduces you to the principles of technical writing, including documentation planning, content creation, and editing. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Technical Writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business processes and systems. This course introduces you to the principles of business analysis, including requirements gathering, process modeling, and data analysis. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Business Analyst.

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Quality Assurance Tester

A Quality Assurance Tester tests software systems to ensure that they meet requirements and are free of defects. This course introduces you to the principles of quality assurance testing, including test planning, test execution, and defect reporting. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Quality Assurance Tester.

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Product Owner

A Product Owner manages the development of software products. This course introduces you to the principles of product management, including product planning, backlog management, and stakeholder management. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Product Owner.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Owner

UX Designer

A UX Designer designs the user interface of software products. This course introduces you to the principles of UX design, including user research, prototyping, and usability testing. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful UX Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Scrum Master

A Scrum Master facilitates the development of software products using the Scrum framework. This course introduces you to the principles of Scrum, including sprint planning, sprint execution, and sprint review. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Scrum Master.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer bridges the gap between development and operations teams. This course introduces you to the principles of DevOps, including continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous monitoring. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful DevOps Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Cloud Architect

A Cloud Architect designs and manages cloud computing systems. This course introduces you to the principles of cloud computing, including cloud infrastructure, cloud services, and cloud security. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Cloud Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist analyzes data to extract insights and solve business problems. This course introduces you to the principles of data science, including data mining, machine learning, and data visualization. By taking this course, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Data Scientist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist