Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives The aims of this subject are to develop the skills necessary to create PC based, business applications with graphical user interfaces using a modern application development environment; familiarise students with the features of a typical modern programming language; familiarise students with the features of a typical modern applications development environment; provide a framework for learning new languages and application development environments efficiently.
Synopsis This subject introduces students to commercial business application development. The emphasis is on PC based applications with interactive graphical user interfaces developed with a typical modern applications development workbench. The features of such a workbench are examined in detail. A method for developing applications is enumerated in the context of modern techniques such as object/component orientation and visual programming. The features of a modern programming language are dealt with in depth including, parameter passing, the scope and lifetime of variables, non simple data types, user defined data types and object variables. These features are explored primarily by example. Some advanced application development topics such as object linking and embedding are also dealt with. Throughout the subject the process of learning and using a particular application development environment is generalised to provide a method for digesting new environments efficiently.
Assessment Tutorial and assignments: 25% + Examination: (2 hours): 75%