UH Cryptics
14 Dec 2021My Software Engineering Experience
My experience in ICS 414 has given me a deeper insight into collaborating within a team and building a program that fits a customer’s requirements and needs. We were responsible for creating an online invetory system to keep track of where medical supplies were stored and the amount of each item in stock. This was done for the John A. Burns School of Medicine to assist their Houseless Outreach and Medical Education (HOME) project. The importance of communication, cooperation, and time management was clear after completing this course. Tasks were divided amongst our team members and each of us were responsible for completing them by a weekly deadline. Communication was key when deciding who was going to implement the different components of the program. This gave us a better perspective of what a real work environment will be like. Most of us had conflicting schedules so compromises had to be made in order for us to meet and all be on the same page. Also, speaking directly with the customer was a great experience of how to articulate our work in a way that they could understand and so we could identify exactly what specific aspects in the program they were looking for.
Inventory Program
Here is an example of what our team’s program looked like. Our objective was to create a website that is simple to use and easy to navigate through. This is why there is only one main page that has two lists of all the medications and supplies in stock. Modals were utilized to add and dispense items so users were able to stay on the main page when carrying out this operation. Filtering systems and low inventory warnings were also implemeneted to assist users in managing their catalog.
Add Medication Modal
Conclusion
Throughout this course I was also exposed to more technical skills such as utilizing the MATRP template and using more features of the React framework. One aspect that I was responsible for was implementing a QR code that directed the user to an auto-filled page that would dispense a specific medication. I was not familiar with this React component prior to taking ICS 414. However, through this course I was able to broaden my knowledge of front-end and back-end development. Overall, this semester has sharpened my technical skills while opening my eyes to how this can be applied to real world situations.