The Future of Software Engineering: Reflections from ICS 414

09 Dec 2022

ICS 414 was a challenging and rewarding course that allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of web development. Over the course of the semester, I got to practice with a number of programming languages, including ReactJS, Bootstrap, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. One of the highlights of the course was the opportunity to work on a real-world project. Our instructor had us create a legislative bill tracker for Hawaii's Department of Education and we called it "Ala Hele". The goal of "Ala Hele" was to provide a user-friendly platform for tracking and organizing legislative bills.

To begin, Our Ala Hele team of 7 individuals spent a significant amount of time planning and organizing the project. This included creating a detailed project board and identifying the specific features and functionality that the platform would offer through milestones. I also spent time researching how to use latest web development technologies like ReactJS to have our application behave the way that we want. I began to use Bootstrap and React to create a clean and professional-looking user interface, as well as using JavaScript to add interactivity and functionality to the platform. Finally I used HTML and CSS to create the structure and design of the website in terms of layout, appearance, and color themes.

One of the challenges I faced during the development process was ensuring that the platform was user-friendly and intuitive and how to implement features that would align with that. I spent a significant amount of time testing and refining the user experience, seeking feedback from my instructor along the way. This allowed me to make a number of improvements to the platform, resulting in a more effective and user-friendly experience. In the end, I was very pleased with the results of my project. "Ala Hele" was a functional and effective legislative bill tracker that was well-received by my instructor and members of HIDOE. This project allowed me to apply the knowledge and skills I had gained throughout the course, and it provided a valuable learning experience that will serve me well in the future.

Overall, ICS 414 was a valuable and enlightening course that provided me with a strong foundation in web development. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked on such a challenging and rewarding project, and I am confident that the skills and knowledge I have gained will be valuable assets as I continue to pursue a career in the field.