Software Development Fundamentals (ITCA) + exam

A wide-range of individuals, including:

Those new to IT, students, recent graduates and career changers.

Audit, risk, security and governance professionals looking to gain base-line IT knowledge and skills.

Current IT Professionals looking to reskill or upskill to broaden their IT knowledge and skills or keep up-to-date

1- Software and its Evolution

Learning Objectives (1)

• Identify and explain basic software concepts and terms
• Describe software types and their uses
• Summarize the history of software (mainframe, personal computers and software-as-a-service eras)

Topics (1)

• What is Software?
• Software Types
• History of Software
• Mainframe Era
• Personal Computer and Desktop Software Era
• Cloud Computing Era
• Y2K Bug

2- Software Basics

Learning Objectives (2)

• Describe algorithms (problem analysis, development, modeling, etc.)
• Differentiate between syntax, semantics, and lexis
• Differentiate between functional and object-oriented programming (OOP)

Topics (2)

• Algorithms
• Differences Among Syntax, Semantics, and Lexis
• Developing an Algorithm
• Analyze Problem
• Design Model
• Analyze Algorithm
• Develop Program
• Test Program
• Document Solution
• Functional vs. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
• Influential Software Enterprises

3- Machine Language

Learning Objectives (3)

• Explain Describe CISC and RISC instruction set architecture (ISA) families and their differences
• Identify machine-code concepts and language
• Define ASCII and Unicode, and interpreters and compilers

Topics (3)

• Introduction
• Central Processing Unit
• Instruction Set
• CISC and RISC Instruction Set Architecture Differences
• Machine Code Language
• ASCII and Unicode
• Assembly Machine Language
• Interpreters and Compilers

4- High-level Languages

Learning Objectives (4)

• Summarize scripting (e.g., Python, JavaScript, PowerShell and Bash)
• Recognize virtual machines (e.g., NET, JAVA)
• Describe the portability of code
• Identify high-level languages (e.g., C, C++, Java, Python, HTML and .NET), procedural and nonprocedural languages, and graphical language
• Describe an integrated development environment (IDE)

Topics (4)

• Scripting
• Applications of Scripting Languages
• JAVA and .NET Virtual Machines
• Portability of Code
• Overview
• Procedural and Nonprocedural
• C and C++
• JAVA
• HTML
• Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
• Python
• .NET Suite and Visual C++

5- Data Input

Learning Objectives (5)

• Describe input types (standard input [STDI], user input, process input, APIs)
• Recall data types (integers, characters, strings, etc.)

Topics (5)

• Input Data
• Process Input
• Data Types

6- Programming Basics

Learning Objectives (6)

• Identify the basic structure of a program
• Compare synchronous vs. asynchronous processing
• Describe data processing
• Explain the flow of control structures (if/else)

Topics (6)

• Synchronous and Asynchronous Processing
• Boolean Logic and Operators
• Control Structures
• If Decision Making

7- Repetition Constructs and Data Structures

Learning Objectives (7)

• Explain the flow of control structures (while, do/while, etc.)
• Identify data structures

Topics (7)

• While Loops
• Infinite While Loops
• Do While Loops
• For While Loops
• Nested Loops
• Data Structures

8- Output

Learning Objectives (8)

• Describe output types (peripherals, standard outputs [STDO])
• Identify data storage types

Topics (8)

• Output to Peripherals
• Data Storage Types
• Retrieving Information
• Updating Information
• Deleting Information

9- Software Development Standards

Learning Objectives (9)

• Recognize ISO/IEC/IEEE standards (e.g., 12207:2017, 15289:2011, 730-2014, 90003)

Topics (9)

• Overview
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 15289:2011
• IEEE Std 730-2014
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003 (except SDLC)

10- Software Development Life Cycle

Learning Objectives (10)

• Describe SDLC management terms and concepts, including roles and responsibilities
• Identify the phases of software development life cycle
• Identify the phases of software development life cycle

Topics (10)

• ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003 (SDLC)
• Planning Phase
• Software Requirements Analysis
• Scheduling and Team Assembly
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Communication Plan
• Risk Management
• Benchmarking
• Designing Phase
• Implementation Phase
• Testing and Integration Phase
• Quality Assurance Responsibilities
• Quality Check Responsibilities
• Testing and Integration Automation
• Defect Analysis
• Deployment
• Maintenance Phase
• End of Life

11- SDLC Models

Learning Objectives (11)

• Describe software management methodologies (waterfall and Agile)
• Recognize Agile development methodologies (Scrum, XP, FDD, DevOps)
• Illustrate how to choose a software methodology
• Describe configuration management
• Explain software versioning and release best practices
• Describe code repositories and proper code branching

Topics (11)

• SDLC Management
• SDLC Models—Waterfall
• SDLC Models—Agile
• The Agile Manifesto
• Agile Development Frameworks
• User Stories
• Assigning Effort Points
• Features and Epics
• Planning and Schedules
• Burndown and Velocity Charts
• Scrum
• SCRUM Roles and Responsibilities
• Extreme Programming (XP)
• Feature-Driven Development (FDD)
• Choosing a Methodology
• Versioning and Repositories
• Software Versioning Schemes
• Repository Mechanics
• Repository Code Branches Structure

12- SDLC Security and Management

Learning Objectives (12)

• Explain DevSecOps and Secure SDLC
• Identify project management tools and techniques
• Express software development ethics

Topics (12)

• DevSecOps
• Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps
• Secure SDLC
• Project Management Tools and Techniques
• Time Management and Scheduling Techniques
• Computer Software Development Ethics

Practice Labs

• Number Systems
• Debugging
• Command Creation
• Scripting with Python
• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)
• GCC and C
• Batch and Bash Scripting
• Standard Input and Output