Software Development in Practice

Table of contents

1. Front Cover
2. Half-Title Page
3. BCS, The Chartered Institute for It
4. Title Page
5. Copyright Page
6. Contents
7. List of figures and tables
8. Authors
9. Abbreviations
10. Preface
11. 1. Getting Started in Software Development
    1. Entry points into a software development role
    2. Software developer skills
    3. Interview skills
    4. Tips for getting started as a software developer
    5. Summary
12. 2. Target Roles
    1. Overview of different roles
    2. Government perspective
    3. Recruitment perspective and seniority
    4. Tips for targeting roles
    5. Summary
13. 3. Overview of Different Tasks a Commercial Developer Might Encounter in the Role
    1. What’s in a name?
    2. What would my responsibilities be as a software developer?
    3. Summary
14. 4. Overview of Software Development Methodologies
    1. Developmental approaches
    2. How developments go wrong
    3. Key design methodologies and limitations
    4. How is a development methodology chosen?
    5. How the client brief affects the development process
    6. Summary
15. 5. Overview of Commercial Software Languages and Paradigms
    1. Trends in programming languages
    2. Language building blocks
    3. Algorithms
    4. Common programming paradigms
    5. Design patterns
    6. LMGTFY! (‘let me Google that for you!’)
    7. Tips and things to consider when working with programming languages
    8. Summary
16. 6. Analysis and Planning
    1. Analysing the problem
    2. Anticipating possible errors and issues, and mitigating them
    3. The role of documentation
    4. Summary
17. 7. Writing Good-Quality Code
    1. Coding the solution
    2. Naming conventions
    3. The importance of layout and commenting
    4. Comments as documentation
    5. Handling errors and exceptions
    6. Code review methods
    7. Tips for good coding
    8. Summary
18. 8. Developing Effective User Interfaces
    1. User interface and user experience
    2. Use of tools
    3. Summary
19. 9. Linking Program Code to Back-End Data Sources
    1. Sources of data
    2. Hardware interfaces, such as sensors
    3. Data files
    4. Databases
    5. Web-based application programming interfaces
    6. Tips when working with data
    7. Summary
20. 10. Testing Code and Analysing Results
    1. Overview of testing
    2. Methods of testing
    3. Designing test data
    4. Analysing test results
    5. Tips for testing
    6. Summary
21. 11. Working With Structured Techniques to Problem-Solve and Design Solutions
    1. Designing and resourcing the solution
    2. The importance of diagramming
    3. Confirming the design with the client before coding
    4. Summary
22. 12. How to Debug Code and Understand Underlying Program Structure
    1. When should debugging occur?
    2. Debugging tools
    3. Common debugging tactics used by developers
    4. Semantic errors
    5. Making the underlying program structure more obvious
    6. Tips for debugging
    7. Summary
23. 13. Working with Systems Analysis Artefacts
    1. Use cases
    2. Agile frameworks in practical software development
    3. Summary
24. 14. Building, Managing and Deploying Code Into Enterprise Environments
    1. DevOps
    2. DevSecOps
    3. Software versioning
    4. Changing developmental practices
    5. Producing a technical guide
    6. Producing a user guide
    7. Tips for building, managing and deploying code into enterprise environments
    8. Summary
25. 15. Industry Approaches to Testing
    1. Automated tools
    2. Trends
    3. How security affects testing in the modern IT industry
    4. Tips for effective testing
    5. Summary
26. 16. Client and Stakeholder Focus
    1. Before development begins
    2. Software development clients
    3. Channels of communication with your clients
    4. Summary
27. 17. Professional Recognition
    1. The need for continuing professional development
    2. Skills Framework for the Information Age
    3. Certification programmes recognised by industry
    4. Tips for getting professional recognition
    5. Summary
28. 18. Final Thoughts
    1. How things change…
    2. Practice makes perfect
    3. Identify your opportunities
29. References
30. Further reading
31. Glossary
32. Index
33. Back Cover