Groups > comp.lang.java.programmer > #10083

Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies

From	Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject	Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies
References	<Xns9FA29593FF4C2jpnasty@94.75.214.39>
Message-ID	<p4_xq.30508$Pm3.8310@newsfe12.iad> (permalink)
Organization	Public Usenet Newsgroup Access
Date	2011-11-19 23:01 -0400

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On 11-11-19 03:42 PM, Novice wrote:
> I have a very general question that isn't really even specific to Java but 
> I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. 
> 
> I'm a Java hobbyist. I've been writing code in Java for a while because I 
> like the language but haven't really used current standard design and 
> programming methodologies in a formal way to develop my code, sticking to 
> older methodologies that I learned long ago, like structured programming 
> and structured design. I'm thinking of trying to get paying work as a full-
> time employee in a company using Java but I think I'm going to have to 
> acquire some new skills to be a credible candidate for a junior position in 
> systems development. 
> 
> What are the standard design and development methodologies being used in 
> systems departments these days and, ideally, where can I find tutorials for 
> them, preferably free and online? 
> 
> I expect that I will have to get at least a working knowledge of a bunch of 
> things, including OO Design, Patterns, and a dozen other things to have any 
> chance but, as a Chinese philosopher once said "a journey of a thousand 
> miles begins with a single step". I'd appreciate your help in building a 
> list of the things that someone like your employer would want met to have 
> before considering me for a junior position writing Java. 
> 
You could probably do worse than to read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_development_methodology. This is
of value primarily because it introduces a lot of common terminology.

Ultimately _every_ software development methodology (SDM) boils down to:

1. requirements analysis - understanding what the client needs you to do;
2. analysis & design - how you intend to meet those needs. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Object-oriented_analysis_and_design, since
we are talking Java, for general concepts;
3. implementation - actually write code;
4. testing - ensuring that your code, as written, satisfies the
requirements;
5. maintenance - nurturing the application over its lifespan.

How all the various approaches differ is how they break up and sequence
these activities. What really matters is that all these activities are
important.

It's probably best not to fixate on any given methodology. Just learn up
on the highlights of each, and keep in mind that all of them ultimately
boil down to requiring competence in the same skills. You'd be
interested initially in object-oriented analysis (OOA), object-oriented
design (OOD), and how to test your code (starting with unit testing and
perhaps functional testing).

Like Arne suggested, "Effective Java" by Bloch is a great book. So is
"Code Complete". IMO I wouldn't bother buying a copy of the GOF design
patterns book; borrow from a university library or locate a decent
website instead. Read some Martin Fowler
(http://martinfowler.com/intro.html). Don't get hung up on specific
methodologies (did I say that already?) - no project ever succeeded or
failed just because of what methodology a team used. Get some
familiarity with UML but don't go overboard with it.

My own specific suggestion - read
http://www.agilemodeling.com/artifacts/crcModel.htm (Scott Ambler is
also a good author). CRC is not just useful in agile.

If your understanding of persistence (databases) is not solid - in your
estimation, bone up on that.

If you don't have one already, select another OO programming language to
learn. You can make a lot more headway in learning all of the above if
you're not tied to one specific language. Just my opinion.

AHS
-- 
You should know the problem before you try to solve it.
Example: When my son was three he cried about a problem with his hand. I
kissed it several times and asked him about the problem. He peed on his
hand.
-- Radia Perlman, inventor of spanning tree protocol

Thread

Standard Design and Development Methodologies Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-19 19:42 +0000
  Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-19 21:22 -0500
    Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-20 16:55 +0000
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies "Charles Hottel" <chottel@earthlink.net> - 2011-11-20 22:20 -0500
  Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-19 23:01 -0400
    Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-19 20:13 -0800
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-19 20:16 -0800
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies "Derek K. Wodenhouse" <dkw@none.of.your.biz> - 2011-11-19 23:49 -0500
        Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-19 23:45 -0800
          Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies "Derek K. Wodenhouse" <dkw@none.of.your.biz> - 2011-11-20 03:49 -0500
            Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-11-20 13:58 +0100
            Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-20 08:32 -0800
              Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies "Derek K. Wodenhouse" <dkw@none.of.your.biz> - 2011-11-20 18:24 -0500
        Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-11-20 03:27 -0800
          Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies spk <jhic@speak.invalid> - 2011-11-20 09:54 -0400
            Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-20 08:33 -0800
            Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies thoolen <th00len@th0lenbot.thorium> - 2011-11-20 18:30 -0500
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-20 09:35 -0400
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-20 17:18 +0000
        Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-20 10:30 -0800
          Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-21 07:23 -0400
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-25 21:51 -0500
        Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-25 20:07 -0800
    Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-20 17:08 +0000
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-20 12:18 -0500
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-20 10:29 -0800
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-20 10:55 -0800
        Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-20 14:07 -0500
          Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-20 11:50 -0800
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-21 07:19 -0400
  Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-11-20 22:27 -0800
    Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-21 07:02 -0400
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Robert Klemme <shortcutter@googlemail.com> - 2011-11-22 18:52 +0100
        Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-22 11:37 -0800
          Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-22 14:27 -0800
            Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-25 22:06 -0500
              Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-26 21:16 -0800
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-12-02 21:53 -0500
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-12-04 21:25 -0800
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-12-05 22:41 -0500
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-12-05 19:58 -0800
          Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-22 19:57 -0400
            Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-25 22:04 -0500
              Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-26 21:18 -0800
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-27 08:34 -0400
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Patricia Shanahan <pats@acm.org> - 2011-11-27 08:39 -0800
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2011-11-27 20:07 +0000
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-12-02 21:48 -0500
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-12-03 14:52 -0400
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-12-05 22:50 -0500
                Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-12-06 07:21 -0400
      Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-25 21:54 -0500
    Re: Standard Design and Development Methodologies Arne Vajhøj <arne@vajhoej.dk> - 2011-11-25 21:47 -0500

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