About The Course

Our objective in this course is to provide you with a solid foundation in distributed software engineering issues. By the end of the course, you will be expected to be able to:

• Produce example software requirements definitions and use-cases indicating distributed system interactions in an unambiguous and testable manner.
• Recognize classic distributed system issues and be aware of appropriate object-oriented design solutions in terms of accepted patterns.
• Critique an object-oriented distributed software design with respect to program performance, testability, and ease of modification.
• Define testing techniques, both static and dynamic, for distributed programs and explain their relationship to program correctness.
• Explain appropriate definitions for completeness, consistency, and correctness when inspecting an analysis or design model for a distributed program.
• Critique a proposed system test suite for completeness coverage using techniques from the course.
• Explain fundamental security algorithms and describe fundamental categories of security concerns in distributed systems
• Explain the issues associated with timing, global states, and the absence of a global clock. Explain the better known algorithms that address these.
• Explain the challenges and describe current solutions to accomplishing process interaction and transactions across a distributed environment.
• Discuss the pros and cons to managing distributed replicated data
• Be knowledgeable about resources on more in-depth development of course topics.

Text

Distributed Systems: Concepts and Design, Geo. Coulouris, Jean Dollimore, Tim Kindberg, 4th edition, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-321-26354-5

In the past, there has been a text on testing that was used in all three courses of the certificate series. It was out of print for awhile. It is available again. Meanwhile, I have been deciding between this and another testing book. The information you need for this course is sufficiently contained in the PowerPoint lecture slides (and Notes portion). When I decide about the testing book, I will let you know.

Grading Policy

A	-	superior/excellent
B	-	good/better than average
C	-	competent/average
D	-	minimum passing
F	-	failing

Because of federal privacy regulations, we are not allowed to use any part of your student ID or Social Security Number to identify you, nor are we allowed to present grades for individual students in alphabetical order. Your homework scores and test and semester grades will be posted on the WebCT site where you will be able to see your own scores and cumulative information regarding the rest of the class.

Homework

For full credit for assignments: Assignments requiring adherence to professional standards criteria or a particular professional notation must do so consistently. Where definition, design, or programming is required, assignments must meet described criteria for completeness and correctness. Where justifications or critiques are required, students are expected to articulate clearly and appeal to substantive material from texts, other assigned readings, and lectures. Assignments are expected to be submitted on time (or early) in their entirety. Exceptions are allowed with prior approval from the instructor for extenuating circumstances.. You may also be excused after the fact due to a serious personal emergency, but such an excuse will require appropriate documentation. Assignments should be submitted electronically whenever possible.

Examination

The date and time of the final examination is scheduled for Monday, December 18, 2006, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. in our regular classroom.

The final examination is intended to measure your individual mastery of the material. It will concentrate on your understanding and ability to synthesize and apply the important concepts, rather than your ability to memorize details. CAETE students are welcome to come to campus to take the exam or, alternatively, arrange an exam time with your Educational Officer as proctor on Monday, December 18, if at all possible. If your EO requires a different exam date, contact me for approval.

The final examination policy of the university states that when a student has three or more examinations on the same day, they are entitled to arrange an alternative examination for the third to nth exams. Our exam is in a late-afternoon time slot. Therefore, it is possible it is your third final exam of the day. The university policy further states that the professor is obligated to accommodate the student with an alternative examination day and time if the student makes these arrangements by the end of the sixth week of the semester. In the fall 2006 semester, the sixth week ends on Friday, October 6.