Module 4: Software Engineering Project

7 dot points across 1 inquiry question, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.

Inquiry Question 1: How are large-scale software solutions developed and managed?

Compare software development methodologies, including waterfall, agile and scrum, and identify when each is appropriate

Development methodologies. Waterfall, agile, scrum, kanban, when each is appropriate, the worked example, and the traps markers look for.

5 min read →

Describe testing strategies, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing and user acceptance testing

Testing. Unit, integration, system, UAT, the test pyramid, test-driven development, the worked Python example, and the traps markers look for.

6 min read →

Use project management tools to plan, track and communicate work across a software team, including issue trackers, Kanban boards and Gantt charts

Project management tools. Issue trackers (GitHub Issues, Jira), Kanban boards, Gantt charts, the worked example, and the traps markers look for.

4 min read →

Use version control to manage source code, including commits, branches, merges, pull requests and remote repositories

Git. Commits, branches, merges, pull requests, the worked feature-branch workflow, and the traps markers look for.

5 min read →

Apply code review and quality practices, including peer review, style guides, linters and static analysis

Code review. Pull request reviews, style guides, linters, static analysis, the worked example, and the traps markers look for.

4 min read →

Set up continuous integration and deployment pipelines that build, test and release software automatically

CI/CD. Build, test, deploy automation, GitHub Actions, the worked pipeline example, and the traps markers look for.

5 min read →

Produce technical and user-facing documentation across the software engineering lifecycle, including README files, API documentation, design documents and user manuals

Documentation. README, API docs, design documents, user manuals, the worked example, and the traps markers look for.

4 min read →