CS 169A: Introduction to Software Engineering

UC Berkeley, Fall 2026

This course presents ideas and techniques for designing, developing, and modifying large software systems using Agile techniques and tools: modular design, design patterns, behavior-driven design, test-driven development, user stories, verification and validation, team organization and management, and analyzing and refactoring legacy code — all in the context of building and deploying Software as a Service (SaaS).

Getting started

Watch the Course Welcome video.
Read the Syllabus and course policies (grading, extensions, etc.).
Complete the Orientation — required. It includes an orientation quiz and other elements you must complete before starting the course content.
Get the (free) textbook: Engineering Software as a Service, 2nd edition, by Armando Fox and David Patterson. Free and legal PDF download; Kindle and hardcopy available for purchase.
Start Module 1.

Important information for Fall 2026

Time conflicts with lecture are OK, since recordings are available.
- Fall 2023 YouTube playlist (berkeley.edu access only) — it’s recommended you review these OR the module videos before coming to live class.
We expect regular attendance at one section per week; some sections may be offered online.
Quizzes and the final exam are in person, in the computer-based testing facilities (CBTF) on campus (Sutardja Dai, Soda Hall). Quizzes are usually open for 2 days and the final for 3–4 days, and you schedule yourself at a time that works for you during that window. No remote quizzes or final; exceptions only with a DSP letter. (The CBTFs can handle extended-time and low-distraction accommodations.)
Self-checks for each module are on Gradescope — unlimited attempts, and they count toward your grade.
CHIPS extension request form (berkeley.edu access only).

Course content

Work through the course module by module: each module pairs recorded videos with a chapter of the textbook, a self-check on Gradescope, and hands-on CHIPS programming assignments. See the Calendar for lectures, sections, and office hours.

Schedule

The FA26 schedule below is a draft — dates are tentative until confirmed in class and on Ed. Quiz and final sign-ups (CBTF via PrairieTest) usually open one week before each window.

Week 1: Module 1

Mon, Aug 24
Tue, Aug 25
Wed, Aug 26	Lecture 1: Welcome & Modules 1–2	Reading ESaaS Chapters 1–2
Thu, Aug 27

Week 2: Module 2

Mon, Aug 31	Lecture 2: Module 2 (topic TBD)
Tue, Sep 01	Discussion 1Intro Ruby (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Sep 02	Lecture 3: Modules 2–3	Reading ESaaS Chapter 3
Thu, Sep 03	CHIPS 2.5: Ruby Intro — due Thu

Week 3: Modules 2–3

Mon, Sep 07	Labor Day — no classes (Mon sections meet Tue this week)
Tue, Sep 08	Exam Orientation Quiz (30 min, CBTF practice — mandatory) Sign-ups open Tue Sep 1 Discussion 2Module 3 (all sections meet Tue this week — Labor Day)
Wed, Sep 09	Lecture 4: Modules 2–3 (combined) & Module 3
Thu, Sep 10	CHIPS 3.3: HTTP and URIs — due Thu

Week 4: Module 4 · Quiz 1

Mon, Sep 14	Lecture 5: Module 4 QUIZ 1Modules 1–2 (CBTF) Sign-ups open Mon Sep 7	Reading ESaaS Chapter 4
Tue, Sep 15	Discussion 3Module 4 (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Sep 16	Add/drop deadline · Team matching survey released Lecture 6: Module 4
Thu, Sep 17	CHIPS 3.7: Wordguesser — due Thu · CHIPS 4.3: ActiveRecord — due Fri
Fri, Sep 18	Team Matching Survey due (required for everyone)

Week 5: Module 4

Mon, Sep 21	Lecture 7: Module 4
Tue, Sep 22	Discussion 4Advanced Rails (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Sep 23	Lecture 8: Modules 4–5	Reading ESaaS Chapter 5
Thu, Sep 24	CHIPS 4.6: Wordguesser on Rails & CHIPS 4.5: Routes (extra credit) — due Thu

Week 6: Module 5

Mon, Sep 28	Lecture 9: Module 5
Tue, Sep 29	Discussion 5Module 5 / Associations (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Sep 30	Lecture 10: Module 5 (topic TBD)
Thu, Oct 01	CHIPS 4.8: Hello Rails — due Fri

Week 7: Modules 5–6 · Quiz 2

Mon, Oct 05	Lecture 11: TBD QUIZ 2Modules 3–4 (CBTF) Sign-ups open Mon Sep 28
Tue, Oct 06	Discussion 6Modules 5 & 7 (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Oct 07	Lecture 12: Module 7	Reading ESaaS Chapter 7
Thu, Oct 08

Week 8: Modules 6–7

Mon, Oct 12	Homework CHIPS 5.3 Rails Intro due Lecture 13: Module 7
Tue, Oct 13	Discussion 7Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Oct 14	Lecture 14: Module 6	Reading ESaaS Chapter 6
Thu, Oct 15	CHIPS 7.7: Intro to BDD and Cucumber — due Thu

Week 9: Modules 7–8

Mon, Oct 19	Lecture 15: TBD
Tue, Oct 20	Discussion 8Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Oct 21	Lecture 16: TBD
Thu, Oct 22	CHIPS 7.9: BDD Feature (extra credit) — due Thu

Week 10: Modules 8–9 · Quiz 3

Mon, Oct 26	Lecture 17: TBD QUIZ 3Modules 4 (part 2) & 5 (CBTF) Sign-ups open Mon Oct 19
Tue, Oct 27	Discussion 9Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Oct 28	Lecture 18: TBD
Thu, Oct 29	CHIPS 8.5: Intro to RSpec (Parts 1 & 2) — due Thu

Week 11: Modules 9–10 · Project begins

Mon, Nov 02	Project CHIP 10.5 released — final project begins Lecture 19: Project Kickoff — CHIP 10.5	Reading ESaaS Chapter 10
Tue, Nov 03	Discussion 10Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Nov 04	Lecture 20: TBD
Thu, Nov 05
Fri, Nov 06	Project Iteration 1 planning meeting (team)

Week 12: Modules 10–12 · Quiz 4

Mon, Nov 09	Lecture 21: TBD QUIZ 4Modules 7–8 (CBTF) Sign-ups open Mon Nov 2
Tue, Nov 10	Discussion 11Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Nov 11	Veterans Day — no classes Lecture 22: Modules 10–12 (Thu 4:30pm, moved from Veterans Day)	Reading ESaaS Chapters 11–12
Thu, Nov 12	Lecture 22, 4:30pm (moved from Wed)
Fri, Nov 13	Project Iteration 1 due — code, demo video, retrospective, peer evals

Week 13: Modules 11–12

Mon, Nov 16	Project Iteration 2 begins Lecture 23: TBD
Tue, Nov 17	Discussion 12Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Nov 18	Lecture 24: TBD
Thu, Nov 19
Fri, Nov 20	Project Iteration 2 planning meeting (team)

Week 14: Module 12 · Thanksgiving

Mon, Nov 23	Lecture 25: Module 12
Tue, Nov 24	Discussion 13Section (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Nov 25	Thanksgiving — no classes Wed–Fri
Thu, Nov 26

Week 15: Wrap-Up · Quiz 5

Mon, Nov 30	Lecture 26: AMA
Tue, Dec 01	Discussion 14Final review (Mon & Tue slots)
Wed, Dec 02	Exam Quiz 5: Modules 9–11 (CBTF) Sign-ups open Wed Nov 18 Lecture 27: Wrap-Up & Final Review
Thu, Dec 03
Fri, Dec 04	Project Iteration 2 due — code, demo video, retrospective, peer evals

Week 16: RRR Week

Mon, Dec 07	RRR Week
Tue, Dec 08
Wed, Dec 09
Thu, Dec 10

Week 17: Finals Week

Mon, Dec 14
Tue, Dec 15	Exam Final Exam (2 hours, CBTF — slot TBD by registrar) Sign-ups open Tue Dec 8
Wed, Dec 16
Thu, Dec 17

Policy on course content

You are free and encouraged to use course materials for personal use (in collaboration with other students, in your research, etc.). You are also free, for example, to post course notes you create on your personal website. Please DO NOT post homework, exams, or solutions, because this could encourage cheating down the road. You are expressly prohibited from uploading ANY course materials to public/commercial websites such as Chegg, CourseHero, Quizlet, etc., or from using them to train public AI models.