An Experimental Project Course to Prepare Students for Agile Web Application Development

Commercial software development today is dominated by the dramatic growth of Web/Internet-delivered information, combined with development techniques that feature rapid creation of reliable, maintainable application software. Staying current with these technologies is a constant challenge in any computer science curriculum. This paper reports on a pilot project course for six computer science fourth-year undergraduates that addressed this challenge in a synergistic way, to the benefit both of the participating students and of a government sponsor. The project created a new, open-source implementation of the Common Map API (CMAPI). It was accomplished using agile development techniques, intensive team activities, and advice from an industry CMAPI expert. Three one-month "sprints" resulted in a working, open-source system that met the needs of the sponsor and provided an excellent learning experience for all concerned. The approach used should be considered for inclusion in every undergraduate computer science curriculum.