SWE-401 Semester Project

Software Design & Architecture β€” Architecture-focused, simple scope
Deliverables are mainly documents + diagrams. Coding is optional and should stay minimal.
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Project Rules (Read Carefully)

This semester project is designed to apply core SWE-401 topics: requirements gathering and system architecture. You are not required to build a complete working product.

Very Important: The main grading focus is Requirements + Architecture + Diagrams. A small prototype is allowed, but it must be simple (no advanced features).

What You Must Submit (Deliverables)

All deliverables must be submitted as hard copies (printed documents).

Submission Format: Both report and presentation slides must be printed and submitted physically. Digital submissions are not accepted unless specifically requested by the instructor.
Part Deliverable Required? Notes (keep it simple)
A Problem statement (5–8 lines) + Actors list Yes Who uses the system and why.
A Functional requirements (8–12 bullet points) Yes Write as β€œSystem shall …”.
A Non-functional requirements (6–8 bullet points) Yes Security, performance, usability, availability, etc.
A Out of scope (3–5 bullet points) Yes Write what you will NOT build.
B Use Case Diagram (1) + 3 Use Case descriptions Yes Pick 3 important flows only.
B Architecture diagram (Component view) Yes UI β†’ Backend β†’ Database (plus optional Auth).
B Class diagram (small: 5–8 classes) Yes Only core entities.
B Sequence diagram (1 main flow) Yes One flow: e.g., β€œBook appointment”.
B Deployment diagram (very basic) Yes Client + Server + Database.
C Prototype (3–5 screens or simple console CRUD) Optional Only to show the idea; not a full app.

You can draw diagrams using any tool (draw.io, Lucidchart, PowerPoint, etc.).

Report Structure (Table of Contents)

Your written report must follow this structure exactly. Include a table of contents at the beginning.

Section Content
1. Table of Contents List all sections with page numbers
2. Introduction Project overview, objectives, scope, organization of report
3. Problem Statement Clear description of problem, current state, proposed solution, stakeholders
4. Requirements Analysis Functional requirements, non-functional requirements, use case diagram, use case descriptions, actors
5. System Architecture Architectural style selection and justification, component diagram, deployment diagram, architecture description
6. UML Diagrams Use case diagram, class diagram, sequence diagram, activity diagram (if applicable), state diagram (if applicable)
7. Design Patterns At least 3 design patterns used, with justification and implementation approach
8. Implementation Overview Technology stack, prototype features, code structure (if applicable)
9. Testing Strategy Testing approach, test cases for critical functionalities
10. Conclusion Summary, reflections, limitations, future enhancements
11. References Properly formatted citations
12. Appendices Source code (if applicable), additional diagrams, screenshots

Evaluation Rubric (Total: 10 marks)

Your project will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Total marks: 10.

Component Marks Evaluation Criteria
Requirements Analysis 2 Completeness and clarity of functional/non-functional requirements, proper use case modeling, actors identification, out of scope definition
Architecture Design 2 Appropriate architectural style selection, clear justification, component design quality, deployment architecture clarity
UML Diagrams 2 Correctness of diagrams, proper UML notation, completeness, consistency across diagrams, clarity and readability
Written Report 2 Report structure and formatting, professional presentation, completeness of all sections, clarity of writing, proper table of contents, references
Presentation 2 Content quality and coverage, delivery and communication skills, prototype demonstration (if applicable), time management, ability to answer questions
Total 10 All components must be submitted as hard copies
Important: Late submissions will be penalized. Ensure all hard copies are properly bound and submitted on time. Presentation will be scheduled separately and attendance is mandatory for all group members.

Choose ONE Project Topic (11 options)

Pick one topic below. Keep it small: only 4 core features.

# Project
1Clinic Appointment System
2Library Issue/Return System
3Hostel Room Allocation
4Canteen Token / Order Queue
5University Complaint Portal
6Event Registration System
7Parking Slot Management
8Lab Inventory (Stock In/Out)
9Simple LMS (Assignments)
10Bus/Van Schedule & Check-in (Manual)
11Office Visitor Entry Log

Example Project (For Understanding Only)

This example is intentionally more detailed to show you what the deliverables look like. Your own project can be simpler.

Example Topic

University Complaint Portal

A system for students to submit complaints and track resolution status.

  • Actors: Student, Admin, Staff/Technician
  • Architecture style: Layered (one style)
  • Core features (4): submit complaint, assign, update status, track status

Sample Requirements (short)

  • FR1: System shall allow students to submit a complaint with category and description.
  • FR2: System shall allow admin to assign a complaint to a staff member.
  • FR3: System shall allow staff to update complaint status (Open/In-Progress/Resolved).
  • FR4: System shall allow students to view the status of their complaints.
  • NFR: Students can only view their own complaints (privacy).
  • Out of scope: Live chat, payments, AI auto-classification.

Diagram 1 β€” Use Case Diagram (example)

Complaint Portal System Submit Complaint Track Complaint Status Assign Complaint Update Complaint Status Student Admin Staff
Students should draw this properly using a diagram tool. This figure shows the expected idea: actors + use cases inside a system boundary.

Diagram 2 β€” Layered Architecture (example)

Web UI Student / Admin / Staff screens Layered Backend Presentation/API β€” Controllers / Routes Business Layer β€” Rules (assign, status) Data Access β€” Repositories / Queries Database Users, Complaints, StatusLogs
Keep it simple: UI β†’ Backend layers β†’ Database. (Students can choose MVC instead, but only one style.)

Diagram 3 β€” Sequence Diagram (example: Submit Complaint)

Student Web UI Backend API Database Fill complaint form POST /complaints INSERT complaint OK + complaintId Success response Show confirmation
Only one sequence diagram is required: choose the most important flow.

Diagram 4 β€” Deployment Diagram (example)

Client Node Browser (Student/Admin/Staff) Server Node Web Server + Backend API Database Node MySQL / SQLite / Firebase
Keep deployment very basic: client + server + database.

Note: This is a sample work. Your project should have more details and depth than this example.