VCE Software Development

School-assessed units that build the data, programming, innovation and cybersecurity skills used in Units 3 and 4.

• Unit 1: data visualisations with databases, spreadsheets and SQL
• Qualitative and quantitative data
• Unit 1: a working solution in an object-oriented language
• The problem-solving methodology
• Unit 2: an innovative solution built around an emerging trend
• Networks and cybersecurity incidents
• Strategies to protect data on a network

• Defining and Calling Functions
• Tracing code by hand and with print

Use features of an object-oriented language to build four working modules, at least two with a graphical user interface.

• Emerging trends in programming using artificial intelligence
• Functional and non-functional requirements, constraints and scope
• Design tools: data dictionaries, mock-ups, object descriptions, IPO charts and pseudocode
• Data types, one- and two-dimensional arrays and records
• Data sources: TXT, CSV and XML files
• Principles of OOP: abstraction, encapsulation, generalisation and inheritance
• Classes, objects, methods and graphical user interfaces
• Naming conventions and validation
• Internal documentation
• Sorting and searching: selection sort, quick sort, linear search and binary search
• Types of errors, debugging and test tables

• Classes, Instances and the self Parameter
• CSV Files with the csv Module
• Bubble, Selection and Insertion Sort
• The Classic Binary Search Loop and Its Bounds

Analyse a need, specify requirements and design a solution using standard analysis and design tools.

• Why organisations undertake software projects
• Writing a brief for a problem, need or opportunity
• Project plans with Gantt charts
• Collecting data: interviews, observations, surveys and reports
• Functional and non-functional requirements, constraints and scope
• Context diagrams, data flow diagrams and use case diagrams
• Software requirements specification
• Legal requirements for copyright and privacy
• File management: naming, version control and backups
• Ideation tools and design ideas
• Evaluation criteria
• Detailed designs, user experience and interface design principles

• Understanding a Problem and Its Constraints
• Entities, attributes and ER diagrams

Develop the solution, test it and evaluate both the solution and the project plan.

• Developing the software solution
• Efficient and effective solutions
• Validation and internal documentation
• Code repositories, APIs, libraries and AI assistants
• Debugging and alpha testing
• Beta testing plans and scenarios
• Test tables comparing expected and actual output
• Evaluating efficiency and effectiveness
• Assessing the project plan: scope creep, personnel changes and technical issues

• Choosing edge cases
• Quick checks with assert
• Your first repository and commit

Analyse an organisation's practices, evaluate security controls and threats, and recommend improvements.

• Goals of organisations and in-house versus external development
• Vulnerabilities and risks: APIs, malware, unpatched software and weak access management
• Man-in-the-middle attacks and insider threats
• Security controls: version control, access management, encryption, code review and updates
• Separate development, testing and production environments
• Threat modelling principles
• Legislation and industry frameworks
• Ethical issues, including the use of AI in development
• Strategies for improving secure development practices

• Common Attacks and Fixes
• Password Hashing
• API Keys and Secrets

Managing your School-assessed Task and preparing for the end-of-year exam.

• Reading the SAT brief and criteria
• Planning your time with a Gantt chart
• Keeping clear records
• The 2-hour end-of-year exam
• Exam command terms
• Practice questions on all units
• Structured written answers

Covered in 1:1 mentoring sessions