COMP SCI 4411 - Event Driven Computing

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

Event-driven systems are the backbone of modern computer systems and services. This course explores the fundamental principles behind these systems; Finite State Automata, their behaviour and implementation; Correspondence with regular expressions; Examples of embedded systems; Introduction to interconnected state machines, Petri Nets, and concurrency. We'll also explore modern approaches to event-driven systems; Reactive Programming; event streams, and observable data.

Open All

Course Details

Course Code	COMP SCI 4411
Course	Event Driven Computing
Coordinating Unit	Computer Science
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 2.5 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	COMP SCI 2201
Incompatible	COMP SCI 4811
Assumed Knowledge	COMP SCI 2103
Assessment	Written exam and/or assignments

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Anna Kalenkova

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Describe the different ways a finite-state machine can be represented
Explain how a finite state machine recognises an input string
Explain how a non-deterministic finite state machine works
Explain the behaviour of regular expressions
Translate a regular expression into a corresponding finite-state machine
Use Mealy and Moore Machines to develop advanced event-driven systems
Understand and apply modern approaches to event-driven systems

The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.

The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.2 1.3 1.6 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.3 3.4 3.5

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	4,5
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1,2,3,4
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	5,6,7
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	7

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Course notes and other online resources will be provided as study material.

You are expected to have access to your own personal computing platform and a reliable Internet connection.

Recommended Resources

Additional relevant readings & resources will be indicated by the lecturers.

Online Learning

Online learning and resources will be provided via MyUni.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

No information currently available.

Workload

No information currently available.

Learning Activities Summary

No information currently available.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Weighting (%)	Individual/ Group	Formative/ Summative	Due (week)*	Hurdle criteria	Learning outcomes	CBOK Alignment**
Programming Assignments	60	Individual	Summative	6, 9, 12		1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.	1.1 1.2 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.1 3.2 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 5.2 5.3
Exam	40	Individual	Summative	Exam Period	0.4	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.	1.1 1.2 2.2 2.6 3.1 3.2 3.3 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.2
Total	100

* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.

This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.

**CBOK is the Core Body of Knowledge for ICT Professionals defined by the Australian Computer Society. The alignment in the table above corresponds with the following CBOK Areas:

1. Problem Solving

1.1 Abstraction

1.2 Design

2. Professional Knowledge

2.1 Ethics

2.2 Professional expectations

2.3 Teamwork concepts & issues

2.4 Interpersonal communications

2.5 Societal issues

2.6 Understanding of ICT profession

3. Technology resources

3.1 Hardware & Software

3.2 Data & information

3.3 Networking

4. Technology Building

4.1 Programming

4.2 Human factors

4.3 Systems development

4.4 Systems acquisition

5. ICT Management

5.1 IT governance & organisational

5.2 IT project management

5.3 Service management

5.4 Security management

Assessment Related Requirements

Additional Assessment: The Project is mandatory: a submission must be made within one week of the relevant due date or any opportunity for an additional assessment may be denied.

Assessment Detail

Detailed descriptions of all assessments will be available on the course website.

If you hand in your work late, your mark will be capped, based on how many days late it is.

–1 day late – mark capped at 75%
–2 days late – mark capped at 50%
–3 days late – mark capped at 25%
–more than 3 days late – no marks available

Submission

All practical assignments must be submitted using the School of Computer Science online Submission System. All details are included in each assignment description on the course website.

In the case of automatic testing, if you hand in your work late, you will miss the test-runs, and deprive yourself of vital evidence that might help you debug your program. Start early, test often!

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator