Module: Introduction to DevOps

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Introduction to DevOps
Module Code	CSC1037 (ITS: CA282)
Faculty	Computing	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The modern software-development environment involves a variety of tools to support development, building, testing and deployment of software systems. This module introduces learners to those tools, and how they are used in combination in order to support the software-development process.

Learning Outcomes

1. Use of Linux tools in the software-development process.
2. Use tools which underpin distributed development and deployment ('ssh', 'rsync', etc.).
3. Automate software build and deployment.
4. Use established software build systems ('make', 'npm', 'ant', etc.).
5. Build and install third-party software systems on a Linux systems.
6. Use industry-standard version-control systems to manage a software project ('git').
7. Use industry-standard tools for continuous integration (testing and deployment).

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	Most of the course material is available online. However, an amount of lecture time is required to ensure that the students appreciate how various course elements are used together. Lecture hours are weighted towards the start of the semester.
Laboratory	24	Completion of weekly lab tasks.
Fieldwork	36	Completion of guided/structured project work.
Fieldwork	48	Independent learning
Total Workload: 120

Section Breakdown
CRN	10213	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Liting Zhou	Module Teacher	Asma Slaimi, Stephen Blott

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Fieldwork	Weekly tasks assessing the use of various software tools. Assessment takes place during weeks 7-12.	50%	Week 6
Fieldwork	Develop a small but complete software project using established industry tools and approaches. Assessment takes place during weeks 7-12.	50%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Unix/Linux tools
A number of the most widely-used standard Unix/Linux tools ('grep', 'cut', 'sort', etc.).

Shell scripting
Basic shell composition mechanisms, including pipelines and control flow.

Build/deploy tools
Compilers, 'make', 'npm' and installation utilities such as 'install' and 'rsync'.

Software/version-control systems
Industry-standard systems such as 'Git'.

Software-development workflow project
An independent (but guided/structured) end-to-end software development project (develop, build, test, deploy, all under the control of 'git' and 'gitlab-runner'). All students execute the same project in parallel.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Website: Git - Book, https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2

Change of module titles, as approved at programme board 2/3/20.