Textbook and Other Resources for CSC 308



Required Text:

  1. Schach, Object-Oriented and Classical Software Engineering, Seventh Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2007
  2. Oh, I wanted to require another one or two, but I'll hold it here and save you a bunch of bucks.  Check the Recommended list :-)
Note that you are responsible to find copies of the textbook, they have not been ordered through our bookstore.  Get them as soon as possible.  Check with me if you are in financial trouble and believe you must share books.  I'll assume everyone has access to the text after the first week.

I expect you'll read (and use) Schach cover to coverand use it as a manual.  You will be expected to read other materials as needed, on your own, and you may be assigned short presentations on a particular section of the textbook.  

I will try to lecture using mostly Schach's material, I will utilize the slides provided along with the text as the center of my lectures.  However,  I do not teach completely from the text and I plan to deviate from time to time.  I assume you will consistently use the text readings to supplement my lecture materiale when I deviate.  I sometimes disagree with the text and I want to expose you to various viewpoints. 

Highly Recommended Texts:

  1. Weinberg, The Psychology of Computer Programming, Dorset House1998.
  2. Weigers, Software Requirements and Specifications (a very, very good book on Requirements!)
  3. Gause, Weinberg, Exploring Requirements, Quality before Design
  4. Parnas, "A Rational Design Process: How and Why to Fake It," (find the article!)
  5. Brooks, "The Mythical Man-Month," (find the article!)
  6. Ludi, "A Student Survival Guide," (local)

Further materiale thoughts:

  1. Review your textbooks briefly so that you know what they're about.
  2. Check on your instructor's academic and industry "pedigree" and see if you can understand what makes him tick :-)
  3. Especially check on your instructor's research page for published research regarding Cal Poly's Capstone Sequence - give it a brief read.
Just a few good web resources:
  1. Karl Weigers' Process Impact - templates available.  (http://www.processimpact.com/goodies.shtml)
  2. Le Vie writes on Requirements Specifications.  (http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/magazine/writing/softwarerequirementspecs.html)