CS3216: Software Development on Evolving Platforms

What is Facebook? “Facebook now worth US$15b, thanks to Microsoft's investment”, The Straits Times, 25 Oct 2007 Fastest growing Social Networking site, predicted to overtake MySpace.com within the year Key Innovation: user-created applications (10,478 applications at last count; was 6,000+ two weeks ago!) Commercial potential not fully tapped.

Overview To be offered AY2007/2008 Semester 2 4 MC 3000-Level Module at SoC Lecturer: ME! TAs & LAs: on course homepage Pre-requisites: –CS1101 (for SoC students) or by instructor’s permission

Why a Facebook Course? Because we are trying to copy Stanford? –No prize in being second Because Web 2.0/Facebook is the future? –Here today, gone tomorrow Two reasons: –What you learn in school will get obsolete even before you can say Jack. –We want to give you your chance to make your first $million

Motivation/Goals Traditional software engineering still has a place – we are merely filling a gap Encourage students to be entrepreneurial (tie up with Allow them to demonstrate their creativity … give them a chance to dream Cross-faculty interaction /peer learning Presentation/writing skills

Learning Outcomes Understand how to source for and use open source software and APIs. Develop engaging and innovative web applications Work in multi-disciplinary teams (learn teamwork) Learn a new programming language independently Improve presentation and communication (both oral and written) skills Express creativity, develop confidence and “can do” spirit

Course Overview Monday, 6.30 to 8.30 pm 4 Lectures on: –Anatomy of a Facebook Application –Principles of Software Engineering –User-Centric Web-Applications –Evolution of Web-Application Platforms Weekly one-hour Seminars –Two groups will make 20-min presentations on existing Facebook applications, followed by discussion

Course Overview Code Review Sessions –Students will critique code written by peers –Discuss the good, the bad and the ugly Guest Lectures –On interesting and relevant topics –“Facebook Application Development with Ruby on Rails” –“Google Web Toolkit” –Details to be announced at start of class

Workload Assignments 1.Hello World 2.Wall 3.Throw a Cow Presentation –One-page summaries Final Project –Students will develop and deploy a “cool” application of their choice –Final Presentation + half-day show-and-tell session

Final Project Something cute and useless but popular Something innovative that serves a useful function (tie up with Company or VWO) Something that you can sell for a seven- digit figure Support for your submission to Research : what and how much data can you steal? Surprise us (in a good way)!

Assessment Hello World – 10% The Wall – 15% Throw a Cow – 15% Presentation/ Participation – 10% One-page summaries – 10% Final Project – 40% No Exams!!

Do we get to choose our team mates? Very important question!! Answer: qualified yes Hello World – match making Other assignments & presentation –OTOT, but cannot work with some people twice Final Project –Free-for-all –First-come-first-served

Common Questions Is there a textbook? Can I SU the course? I have taken ITxxxx, CZxxxx, GEMxxx and CSxxxx, can I take this course? What can I do over Dec to prepare for the course? Will the course be too hard for the first year student to take as it is a level 3000 module? How much time will the course take? Will the course be offered in future semesters?

M ORE Q UESTIONS?

Sign me up! Submit a personal statement to cs3216- by 15 December 2007:cs3216- –Why do you want to take the module? –Describe your background and explain how do you think you can contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the new module and to the team projects. –Describe a cool Facebook app that you *really* want to build. Explain why you think your app is really cool. Successful candidates will be automatically registered for the class in CORS. Results out by Boxing Day