Birth of a program : a condensed journey through the software lifecycle

Abstract

Many software products are created to solve a problem, either for the creator or for a customer. Ball State University’s Department of Computer Science exposes students to the latter during its Capstone course. In the fall semester, small groups of students seek out client partners with a business problem they can solve with software. The year is then a journey through the software development lifecycle from start to finish, culminating in a final working deliverable at the end of the year. I detail my journey through this formidable process, highlighting the milestones encountered and the lasting impact they will have during my career.