Type of contents

And so we come to the course contents. Complex Systems Design studies the application of a particular branch of algebra, called Process Algebra, to study and model the behavior of reactive systems, ie systems typically made up of multiple components, which interact between them and they react to commands coming from outside.

If you want to consult in some detail the content of the lessons of this academic year, you can read (sorry: only in Italian language) these lecture notes of Complex Systems Design.

If you're happy with a macroscopic list of entries, here it is:

• regular expressions (yes, they are useful to search patterns in texts, but they are usable to describe complex systems too);
• bisimulation;
• a Calculus of Communicating Systems (CCS);
• exemples of systems:
  • producer consumer;
  • FIFO buffer;
  • PIPE buffer;
  • BUFF buffer;
• notes of model checking.

Furthermore, to do the exam, it is necessary to develop a project, usually in a group of students, and it's chosen among those indicated by productive realities, which propose them to the teaching staff.

In special cases, for example for students in other towns, it is possible to propose autonomously projects to the professor, as long as they pertain to the subject of teaching.

The chosen project is developed by the working group with the supervision of a tutor appointed by the company that proposed it. Professor checks the status progress, usually once a week.

The exam includes a presentation and discussion of the project, and possibly some questions related to teaching lessons.

Observations

As you may have guessed, I had to make a considerable effort to grab the basic concepts of Abstract Algebra, of which I was lacking.

The other my major effort was to understand how to use in the design field of software systems the theoretical tools made available by the teaching. I have only taken the first steps in this direction, but I must say that they were interesting, even though challenging.

Three aspects impressed me deeply.

First of all, professor Corradini has an intersting teaching style. He mix the theory with observations of life relative to characters who built the algebra of processes, creating an atmosphere that tends to grab the student.

Second. The fact that the projects are normally proposed by companies, creates for students the opportunity to observe some really working organizations. Not to mention of the link between universities and companies, which in Germany is one of the strengths.

Third. The lessons were streamed over the Internet. Without this feature, I could never give this exam: I followed the lessons from Rome.

For sure, with the WEB streaming existed some connection problems. Moreover, often the video of the sheet on which the professor wrote was out of focus, giving place to some "interpretative" problems :-). However in the end everything worked out.

Conclusions

A challenging course, which must be addressed by those who choose any curriculum of Computer Science master's degree course at the University of Camerino.

I must say that observing the use of algebra in the context of reactive system design on one hand it surprised me. Meanwhile on the other hand, like all new things, it greatly interested me. And having the feeling of learning new things always leaves me satisfied: dopamine at work :-).

Thanks to professor Corradini, who spent himself in deepening the concepts, also trying to approach them from different angles. And for the patience shown in listening me during the exam, despite my bad English.

About the exam. Of course, being the only Methuselah in the midst of a lot of twenty-year-olds leaves a little lost. On the other hand it must be accepted that by now we live in a world where the education phase is permanent. It's necessary to understand that what has been learned at age of twenty isn't enough for the rest of life.

Finally, once again, there is the need to know English discreetly.

This is the official language of the entire degree course: the lessons are usually in English, as well as exams. And here there are no transcripts a save our lives :-).