Facebook@NUSFacebook@NUSFacebook@NUSFacebook@NUSCS3216: Software CS3216: Software

Development on Evolving Development on Evolving PlatformsPlatforms

What is Facebook?• “Facebook now worth US$15b, thanks

to Microsoft's investment”, The Straits Times, 25 Oct 2007

• Fastest growing Social Networking site, predicted to overtake MySpace.com within the year

• Key Innovation: user-created applications(10,478 applications at last count; was 6,000+ two weeks ago!)

•Commercial potential not fully tapped.

Overview• To be offered AY2007/2008

Semester 2 • 4 MC 3000-Level Module at SoC• Lecturer: ME!• TAs & LAs: on course homepage• Pre-requisites:

–CS1101 (for SoC students) or by instructor’s permission

Why a Facebook Course?

• Because we are trying to copy Stanford?– No prize in being second

• Because Web 2.0/Facebook is the future?– Here today, gone tomorrow

• Two reasons:– What you learn in school will get obsolete

even before you can say Jack.– We want to give you your chance to make

your first $million

Motivation/Goals• Traditional software engineering still has a

place – we are merely filling a gap• Encourage students to be entrepreneurial

(tie up with Startup@Singapore?)• Allow them to demonstrate their creativity

… give them a chance to dream •Cross-faculty interaction /peer learning •Presentation/writing skills

Learning Outcomes• Understand how to source for and use open

source software and APIs. • Develop engaging and innovative web

applications • Work in multi-disciplinary teams

(learn teamwork)• Learn a new programming language

independently •Improve presentation and

communication (both oral and written) skills

•Express creativity, develop confidence and “can do” spirit

Course Overview• Monday, 6.30 to 8.30 pm• 4 Lectures on:

– Anatomy of a Facebook Application– Principles of Software Engineering– User-Centric Web-Applications– Evolution of Web-Application Platforms

• Weekly one-hour Seminars– Two groups will make 20-min

presentations on existing Facebook applications, followed by discussion

Course Overview• Code Review Sessions

– Students will critique code written by peers – Discuss the good, the bad and the ugly

• Guest Lectures– On interesting and relevant topics– “Facebook Application Development with

Ruby on Rails”–“Google Web Toolkit”–Details to be announced at start of

class

Workload• Assignments

1. Hello World2. Wall3. Throw a Cow

• Presentation– One-page summaries

• Final Project– Students will develop and deploy a “cool”

application of their choice– Final Presentation + half-day show-and-tell

session

Final Project• Something cute and useless but popular• Something innovative that serves a useful

function (tie up with Company or VWO)• Something that you can sell for a seven-

digit figure• Support for your submission to

Startup@Singapore•Research : what and how much data can you steal?

•Surprise us (in a good way)!

Assessment• Hello World – 10%• The Wall – 15%• Throw a Cow – 15%• Presentation/

Participation – 10%• One-page summaries – 10%

• Final Project – 40%• No Exams!!

Do we get to choose our team mates?

• Very important question!!• Answer: qualified yes• Hello World – match making• Other assignments & presentation

– OTOT, but cannot work with some people twice•Final Project

–Free-for-all–First-come-first-served

Common Questions• Is there a textbook?• Can I SU the course?• I have taken ITxxxx, CZxxxx, GEMxxx and

CSxxxx, can I take this course?• What can I do over Dec to prepare for the

course? •Will the course be too hard for the first

year student to take as it is a level 3000 module?

•How much time will the course take?

•Will the course be offered in future semesters?

MORE

QUESTIONS?

Sign me up!• Submit a personal statement to

cs3216-staff@googlegroups.com by 15 December 2007:– Why do you want to take the module? – Describe your background and explain how

do you think you can contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the new module and to the team projects.

– Describe a cool Facebook app that you *really* want to build. Explain why you think your app is really cool. •Successful candidates will be

automatically registered for the class in CORS. Results out by Boxing Day