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It's time for another 'review' post, this time on M256 Software Development with Java.

Despite the name, M256 is somewhat light on actual Java; instead it concentrates on the process/methodology of software development, with Java used for examples of how code may be implemented and for demonstrating the development of a graphical user interface. Certainly, the first third (maybe even half) is completely language-agnostic, focusing on gathering requirements and planning.

I experienced a strange relationship with this module. I was interested at first and found the material fairly easy to digest, performing well in the first two TMAs. Around the time of my M250 exam I neglected M256 and never quite regained my momentum, until the final couple of weeks before the exam, when I was lucky enough to experience some kind of epiphany, with the whole picture sliding into place (I think, pending exam score...)

Overall, I actually quite enjoyed this course, which is strange to say, as I certainly didn't feel that way a couple of months ago. I think there is an element of it being a fairly longwinded process to learn and not really appreciating the whys and wherefores until I'd gone over the whole again for revision.

I guess the final thing which leads to me giving a thumb ups for this module is the simple fact that I still intend to go on to do TM354 at level 3, which builds on M256, by my understanding.

I'm moving on now with M269 and M258, which I haven't yet settled into, though I think they will prove to be both interesting and challenging.