Building Academics: Student Initiative to Benefit Institute's IT Services

I'm working on a simple, client-based application to help Student Computing Services manage the inventory of over 960 software titles and the accompanying licenses that they deploy across their four campus locations. But getting here was a little tricky.

At first, I proposed a web-based application. I sought the accessibility of the Internet.

Through several iterations of revising and eliciting client feedback, I learned that the political and jurisdictional circumstances of the client's environment prevent the deployment of a web-based software inventory system. One of the project requirements is that the Student Computing Services Section must have full jurisdiction over the product. This will not be possible with a web-based system. Hosting the database through a free hosting third-party is a security violation. Creating a database server will not be possible without crossing into the jurisdiction of the Networking Section.

The project was forced to become a client-side application. Though very limited in accessibility relative to a web-based system, the client assures me that it will be very useful to the Section. The project will still meet the requirements of the directed field study. It will still be a work of adequate significance and an excellent opportunity for the student to learn and gain experience. It will still involve the planning and development of a database and an application to interact with it.

For now, somewhat disappointed but still determined, I'm continuing to revise the concept and toss the idea around the office to get some feedback. I need to take care not to speak too loudly, though. There's a certain way of doing things around here, see.

Coding begins next week. For the full calendar of events, see this weblink.