Mastering Software Design

Agile development is not really about being fast, but about getting into a rhythm with sustainable speed so we can deliver continuously. Among other things, agile development requires creating high quality code and lightweight design. Often, a lack of or inadequate automated testing makes it hard to respond to change. Automated testing provides two significant benefits: regression and better design. However, writing tests mechanically will not automatically give us design benefits.

This course focuses on how to use automated tests to drive the design of applications. We start with learning about strategic design and then dive into tactical design issues influenced by automated tests. We learn about both test and design quality, how to maintain a good code coverage, and the essential principles for creating lightweight design. Along the way we will discuss how to bring in design patterns and also measure the quality of design.

What you’ll learn and how you can apply it

• Learn how to build software from start to finish.
• Learn how to use automated tests to design applications
• Learn about strategic design and how to use design patterns
• Learn how to dive into tactical design issues influenced by automated tests
• Learn how to maintain a good code coverage
• Learn the essential principles for creating lightweight design
• Learn how to measure the quality of design.

This course is for you because…

• You’re a programmer, group leader, hands-on architect, or a technical manager.
• You work with code that requires high quality design and needs to be extensible.
• You want to become a better developer or leader of a team that develops industrial strength software.

Prerequisites:

Strong programming knowledge and experience, in any language, though Java will be used in the examples. Some experience with design principles and patterns is helpful but not required.