COSC 499: Capstone Software Engineering Project

For Winter 2025 Terms 1-2

How Things Work Each Semester

This is a long course. Let's survive together!

How Each Week Works (Roughly)

Class attendance is mandatory. Treat this course like a job.

Much of what happens in this course mimicks real-world workplace expectations. The project will give you hands-on experience working in a team and building a relevant product for a client. All the technical skills and soft skills you gain (communication, time management, collaboration) will all be fundamental for your professional career development.

Semester 1's Tentative Weekly Topics and Deliverables

Week Dates Topics/Readings Deliverables (due Sunday 11:59pm)
1 Sep 03-07 Wed:
  • Course overview (slides)
  • Success factors in teams (slides)
  • Complete "Consent" and "Self-Awareness" survey
  • Sign up for GitHub Education student account (optional)
  • Set up Git
  • Review GitHub Workflow
  • 2 Sep 08-14 Mon:
  • Finding teammates (slides)
    Wed:
  • Team preferences (Teamable survey)
  • Working in Github (slides)
  • Test driven development (slides), download (exercise)
  • Complete your "Team Formation" survey (responses are used for forming teams)
  • Submit TDD reflections
  • Watch the IP guest lecture (see sample IP agreement)
  • 3 Sep 15-21 Mon:
  • Meet your team (Canvas - People - Groups)
  • Requirements and WBS (slides)
    Wed:
  • Bring 2 printed copies of your requirements
  • Weekly reporting (slides)
  • Start your team Capstone repo
  • Submit project requirements
  • Complete weekly logs (rubric)
  • 4 Sep 22-28 Mon:
  • System architecture design (slides) and checklist
    Wed:
  • Bring 2 printed copies of your system architecture diagram
  • Submit team's project proposal (rubric)
  • Submit architecture diagram
  • Complete weekly logs
  • 5 Sep 29 - Oct 05 Mon:
  • Data flow diagram (DFD) (slides)
    Wed:
  • Bring 2 printed copies of your DFD Level 1
  • Submit DFD
  • Complete weekly logs
  • 6 Oct 06-12 Mon:
  • Class canceled
  • Review finalized requirements
  • Revise system architecture and work allocation
    Wed:
  • Agile development and Code reviews (slides)
  • Docker basics (slides)
  • Update repo README with link to system final system architecture diagram with explanation
  • Update repo README with link to DFD Level 1 with explanation
  • Update repo README with link to revised WBS
  • Learn about docker
  • Set up your local evnironment
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions (rubric)
  • 7 Oct 13-19 Mon:
  • No classes (Thanksgivings)
    Wed:
  • Quiz #1
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 8 Oct 20-26
  • Weekly checkin expectations
  • In-class checkins start
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 9 Oct 27 - Nov 02
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 10 Nov 03-09
  • Quiz #1 feedback (slides)
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 11 Nov 10-16 Reading Break: No Classes This Week
    12 Nov 17-23
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
    (combine with Week 11 -- treated as bonus work)
  • 13 Nov 24-30 Mon (All to attend class):
  • Team contract, in-class presentation expectations, Quiz #2 format (slides)
    Wed:
  • Quiz #2
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 14 Dec 01-07 Milestone #1 presentations
  • Update repo README with link to team contract
  • Update repo README with updated, accurate system architecture diagrams and DFD
  • Submit video demo and requirements checklist for Milestone #1
  • Complete Milestone #1 self-reflection
  • Complete peer feedback for 5 other teams
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • Semester 2's Tentative Weekly Topics and Deliverables

    Week Dates Topics/Readings Deliverables (due Sunday 11:59pm)
    1 Jan 05-11
  • Quiz #2 feedback slides
  • Milestone #1 and Quiz #2 checks
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
    (combine with activities after Dec 07 -- treated as bonus)
  • 2 Jan 12-18
  • Peer testing expectations (slides)
  • Milestone #1 and Quiz #2 checks
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 3 Jan 19-25
  • In-class checkins resume
  • API design and documentation
  • Submit your session instructions with task list sorted by user group
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 4 Jan 26 - Feb 01 Peer testing (schedule, rubric)
  • Complete peer feedback for teams you evaluated
  • 5 Feb 02-08
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
    (combine with T2 Week 4 -- treated as regular weeks)
  • 6 Feb 09-15 Mon
  • Career Development Services (Guest lecture slides)
    All to attend class
  • UBCO Alumni (Guest lecture slides)
    All to attend class
  • 7 Feb 16-22 Reading Break: No Classes This Week
    8 Feb 23 - Mar 01 Milestone #2 presentations
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
    (combine with T2 Week 6 (treated as regular week) and Week 7 (treated as bonus))
  • Submit video demo and requirements checklist for Milestone #2
  • 9 Mar 02-08 Mon: No class due to extra guest lecture
    Wed:
  • Quiz #3
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • Submit your session instructions with task list sorted by user group
  • 10 Mar 09-15
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
  • 11 Mar 16-22 Peer testing
  • Complete peer feedback for teams you evaluated
  • 12 Mar 23-29 Milestone #3 presentations
  • Submit video demo and requirements checklist for Milestone #3
  • Complete weekly logs + contributions
    (combine with T2 Week 11 -- treated as regular weeks)
  • 13 Mar 30 - Apr 05
  • Project Voting
    No classes this week, use class time to evaluate projects and vote
  • Complete project voting
  • 14 Apr 06-12 Mon:
  • No classes (Easter)
    Wed:
  • Course summary
    All to attend class
  • Submit your project report with embedded video following the required template
  • Complete the course evaluation
  • Final Exam Period Quiz #4 (not during regular class time)