Foundations of Software Development

This unit introduces core concepts and practices that underpin software and systems development, synthesizing key takeaways about the software development lifecycle, computational thinking, basic programming constructs, version control, and professional collaboration. It builds on prior foundational computing skills and prepares students for deeper coding, system design, and project work in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze fundamental principles of the software development lifecycle, computational thinking, and algorithmic problem solving to identify requirements and decompose problems into implementable tasks
• Apply basic programming constructs and debugging strategies to create, run, and test small code samples that demonstrate correct logic and control flow
• Demonstrate use of version control systems and collaborative workflows to manage code, document changes, and coordinate team contributions
• Evaluate ethical, security, and user-centered considerations in software design and produce clear requirements and acceptance criteria for follow-on project work