Overview
Writing code has become an integral part of research irrespective of the field, and it is now more important than ever to consider the ways in which we are working to ensure the reproducibility of our research. This course will look at the software development lifecycle with research projects in mind. It will enable participants to explore various topics, such as problem decomposition, data management, version control and testing. Participants will also learn how to collaborate on code effectively, as well as how to make their code useful to others, enabling them to improve their workflow and increase the impact of their research. Throughout this interactive and largely language agnostic course, there will be live demonstrations and plenty of opportunity for discussion.
Course objectives
On completion of this series of workshops, participants will:
- Have a high-level understanding of software development for research.
- Be able to collaborate on code effectively.
- Be able to improve the reproducibility of their research by understanding how to make their code useful to others.
- Have the necessary foundations for intermediate level courses that will delve deeper into software development topics.
Prerequisite knowledge
No prior knowledge of software development is required, simply a willingness to learn.
Course format
This is a hybrid course that runs over two sessions - the schedule can be found here.
Please note that you will be expected to attend both sessions.
Upcoming workshop dates
The sessions will be delivered according to the following timetable.
| Session | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | April 16th 2024 | 10:00 - 12:00 | Training Room 4, Old Library, Streatham Campus |
| Session 2 | April 23rd 2024 | 10:00 - 12:00 | Training Room 4, Old Library, Streatham Campus |
Registration for this course is handled by University of Exeter Researcher Development (see the Software Training section).
Setup instructions for attendees
There is no setup required for this course, but please do take a look at the additional resources and supplementary materials.
Course notes
At this time, course notes will not be made available. We hope to make them freely available in the future.
Follow-up courses
On completion of this course you will be invited to join a network of other participants. This is a supportive forum for you to ask follow-up questions and receive invites to follow-on courses.
Feedback
Please remember to complete a feedback survey at the end of the course. Our workshops are under continual review and your experiences, suggestions and criticism are invaluable for shaping the direction of this initiative. This is especially important if you complete the materials in your own time, as it enables us to measure impact. If you have ideas on other courses you would like to see then please contact the Coding for Reproducible Research Team: CodingForReproducibleResearch@exeter.ac.uk.
Join us
If you are interested in becoming part of our community of workshop helpers, leaders and developers please contact the Coding for Reproducible Research Team: CodingForReproducibleResearch@exeter.ac.uk.
Acknowledgements
This course was developed by members of the University of Exeter’s Research Software Engineering Group who are enthusiastic about sharing their skills with the wider research community.
If you have benefited in any way from this course and want to support its long term sustainability then please take the time to complete our feedback survey, recommend it to your colleagues, and enthuse about it to your senior leadership team.
This course is brought to you by:
- The University of Exeter Research Software Engineering Group
- The Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
- The University of Exeter Researcher Development Programme
- The University of Exeter Doctoral College