Object-Oriented Design

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/object-oriented-design

Introduction

**Course Review: Object-Oriented Design on Coursera** In the realm of software development, understanding and implementing object-oriented design principles is essential for creating robust, maintainable, and scalable applications. The course **Object-Oriented Design** on Coursera offers an excellent opportunity for Java beginners to deepen their understanding of these vital concepts. ### Course Overview This course serves as a significant stepping stone for those looking to enhance their programming skills, particularly in Java. By focusing on object-oriented analysis and design, it empowers learners to create modular, flexible, and reusable software applications. Participants will also gain valuable skills in communicating design ideas through Unified Modelling Language (UML), a standard visual notation used in software engineering. ### Syllabus Breakdown **1. Object-Oriented Analysis and Design** The introductory module emphasizes the importance of design before delving into coding. You'll learn about the two main stages of design—conceptual and technical—while exploring techniques such as Class-Responsibility-Collaborator (CRC) cards. This foundational knowledge is crucial for establishing effective software requirements and understanding the role of object-oriented thinking in development. **2. Object-Oriented Modeling** This module focuses on fundamental principles like abstraction, encapsulation, decomposition, and generalization. These concepts are vital for any developer seeking to implement best practices in software design. You'll learn how to apply these principles in Java and represent them visually using UML, aiding in better communication among team members and stakeholders. **3. Design Principles** In this section, you'll delve into more advanced design principles that ensure your code remains flexible, reusable, and maintainable. Topics include coupling and cohesion, separation of concerns, information hiding, and the importance of conceptual integrity. Additionally, the course addresses common pitfalls associated with inheritance, helping you avoid potential design flaws in your projects. **4. Capstone Challenge** To solidify your understanding, the course culminates in a Capstone Project that challenges you to apply all the concepts learned. You’ll create a UML class diagram from a sample Android code base and develop various sequence and state diagrams to model the application's behavior. With new functionality descriptions and an updated diagram, you will implement design changes within the existing codebase. This practical application not only reinforces your learning but also prepares you for real-world software development challenges. ### Key Takeaways - **Comprehensive Learning**: The course provides a thorough exploration of object-oriented design principles and practices, making it beneficial for learners at all levels. - **Hands-On Experience**: The Capstone Project offers practical experience, integrating theoretical knowledge with real coding challenges, equipping you for future projects. - **Visual Communication Skills**: Learning UML equips you with critical skills to visually communicate design ideas, enhancing collaboration within teams. ### Recommendation I highly recommend the **Object-Oriented Design** course for anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of object-oriented principles in Java. Whether you're a beginner aiming to expand your programming skills or someone who wants to refine your design thinking, this course provides a solid foundation. The structured approach, combined with practical applications, ensures that you will come away with actionable skills that will enhance your software development capabilities. In conclusion, this course stands out for its clear explanations, hands-on projects, and the importance it places on both design theory and practice. Enroll today to elevate your Java programming and design proficiency to the next level!

Syllabus

Object-Oriented Analysis and Design

Good software design begins before coding. After establishing the initial software requirements, design practices involve two main activities: conceptual design and technical design. In this module, you will realize the importance of design and object-oriented thinking, and learn how to design software using techniques like CRC cards.

Best software design practices have evolved alongside programming languages. Today, all developers should be familiar with abstraction, encapsulation, decomposition, and generalization, which are fundamental principles in object-oriented design. You will learn all of these principles and how they are expressed in Java and communicated visually in Unified Modelling Language.

Additional design principles will help you to create code that is flexible, reusable, and maintainable. In this module you will learn about coupling and cohesion, separation of concerns, information hiding, and conceptual integrity. You will also learn to avoid common pitfalls with inheritance, and ways to express software behavior in UML.

In the previous modules you were introduced to object-oriented analysis and design, object-oriented modeling, and design principles. To cement your understanding of this material, you created a UML class diagram from an example Android code base, and used your understanding of the code base to make sequence and state diagrams to model its behavior. Now, in the final module of the course, given a description of new functionality and an updated UML class diagram, you will implement the updated design into the Android code base. After completing this development task, you will be ready to complete the final exam.