Q: Could we XML or Json for the code development?
A: Yes you can BUT only for using it as a proxy of database to store data of entity classes. Use it ONLY IF you are familiar with it and you prefer to use it instead of plain text file (TXT or CSV). You should not concentrate too much on this as this will distract you from working on the core software engineering work.
Use simple plain text file to store data is recommended. no extra marks given if using XML or JSON.
问题1. Should we assume all the trains operate exactly on time? I mean, if any train postpones or arrives in advance, what should we do to handle such problems?
回答：Yes you can make this assumption. You do not need to worry about delays etc. and you are not required to handle this problems in this coursework.
问题2. When will the start time of the first story be? Should we set it to 4.25, which is the ddl of the first submission?
回答：If you meant when you should start programming on the first story...as soon as you have done the initial product backlog and have decided the time of iterations.
问题3. Would all the iterations be identical? If we set the first iteration to 1 week, and the second to 2 weeks, would it be okay?
回答：Typically 2 weeks time of an iteration. It is not a problem if you set iteration 1 for 1 week and others for 2 weeks, but WHY would you do this? Remember, at the end of each iteration there must be a new version of working system completed.
问题4. When the manager wants to know the current location of a specific train, should we read the according set value in the timetable, or should we return the result of trackers?
回答：It should be using the real time location, e.g. tracker feedback on the train, GPS etc. As I already mentioned in the handout, you need to consider programming to interface, and leave the detailed implementation to the client code. This means in your system, you only need the method getLocation() and you do not have to worry about where the location information is from.