Applied Programming and Systems Integration

This capstone unit integrates programming fundamentals, data structures, algorithms, user interface design, debugging, and system integration. Students will apply sorting/searching techniques, object- and protocol-oriented design, databases, and tooling (debugger, profiler, source control) to build, optimize, and document functional programs.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze and compare the performance and trade-offs of sorting algorithms (quick, merge, heap) and choose appropriate data structures (arrays, structures, objects) for given problems using Big-O reasoning and empirical profiling
• Apply object-oriented and protocol-oriented design patterns, functions, and variable-scope rules to develop modular programs that integrate third-party components and database queries while handling type conversions and real-time data
• Demonstrate debugging, profiling, and source-control workflows to identify and fix logic and performance issues, create help/documentation artifacts, and validate program correctness through test cases
• Evaluate user interface designs and branching/loop constructs (including SELECT CASE, boolean and comparison operators, and loop control) for usability, maintainability, and performance, and refactor code accordingly