Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On completion of the subject, students should be able to program in COBOL; understand some basic concepts and tools for object-oriented COBOL programming; be familiar with CASE concepts and tools; be able to apply software engineering concepts in the construction of software written in COBOL; and appreciate the benefits of careful analysis and design in ensuring the construction of software.
Synopsis This subject is for students who wish to learn COBOL programming in a team environment. This involves software design using structure and object-oriented approaches. Topics include: COBOL programming - cultural and future aspects, comparison of COBOL with other languages, COBOL program structure and techniques (divisions, coding form, levels, statements, tables, sorting linked lists, stacks, queues); the role of systems analysis; large-scale software development techniques - resource allocation, decision analysis, normalisation, designing documents, files, controls and test plan, implementation and prototyping (3 GLs, 4 GLs, CASE); Rational Rose to support object-oriented approaches - the problem domain and system's responsibilities, relationship between classes and objects, abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, association, designing the problem domain, human interaction, task management and data management.
Assessment Examination (2 hours): 50% + Practical work including COBOL project: 50%