Hi Bojan:

here is my answer to your question about COM 3360 (Adaptive
Object-Oriented Software Development) versus 
COM 3230 (Object-Oriented Design).

COM 3360 teaches the concepts of OO at a higher level
of abstraction so that you can better understand the OO concepts.
The approach is called Adaptive Programming (AP).
While OO works with classes and methods, AP works with class graphs,
traversal strategies and visitors.

Each object-oriented program is an adaptive program, although
usually a bad one. So AP is a generalization of OO which
includes all of OO.

Therefore some important OOD techniques are taught in COM3360,
such as the Law of Demeter which is widely used in industry.

>May 97
>To: lieber@ccs.neu.edu
>Subject: Law of Demeter (LoD)
>
>I have been using LoD pervasively since about 1990, and it has taken
>firm hold in many areas of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Major systems
>which have used LoD extensively include the Telemetry Delivery System (a
>real-time database begun in 1990), the Flight System Testbed, and Mars
>Pathfinder flight software (both begun in 1993). We are going to use LoD
>as a foundational software engineering principle for the X2000 Europa
>orbiter mission. I also used it within a couple of commercial systems
>for Siemens in 91-93, including a Lotus Notes like system, and a email
>system. The way I have been using the LoD is covered in:
>
>    http://mds.jpl.nasa.gov/7thIEEE.html#Demeter
>

COM3360 also uses popular notations like the UML class diagram
notation and an EBNF style grammar notation.

So my recommendation is that you take both courses, COM 3360 and
COM 3230 if you are interested in OO since the overlap between
the courses is minimal. If you have time only
for one of the courses, I recommend that you take COM 3360
in the fall (a nationally televised course). It gives you important
insights into OO and prepares you for what might come after OO.
It also introduces you to a topic for which Northeastern is well
known for.

For more information, see my home page.

-- Karl L.
PS. 
COM3360 is offered fall 1997.
COM 3230 is currently planned to be taught during the 1997/98
academic year. Details to be announced by the Graduate School.

From bojan@ccs.neu.edu Sun May 18 00:09:27 1997
Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 00:12:14 -0400
From: Bojan Rapaic <bojan@ccs.neu.edu>
Reply-To: bojan@ccs.neu.edu
Organization: Bojan Rapaic
To: lieber@ccs.neu.edu
Subject: OO Design courses

Prof. Lieberherr,

I am considering to take your course on Adaptive OOP this fall but I 
would need few clarifications.

I am taking C++ course now and I am considering to take the summer 
course in OO Design at either NEU (COM 3230) if offered or at some 
local University.

What is the overlap of material in your course and COM 3230 ? If your 
course covers most of the material of the COM 3230 I would rather wait 
for your course in the fall.

Would you recommend me to take both courses?

I am interested in learning more about OO Design and Development and 
the standard methodologies in OOP. I am woried that your course is too 
specific in one area of Adaptive OOP and is more of the advanced OO 
course, geared toward people that are already experienced in standard 
OO design.

I would appreciate your prompt response since I am making plans for 
the summer courses now. Thank you.

Bojan Rapaic
CCS Graduate Student