My Capstone Journey, so far:
As my time at Oregon State University wraps up, I’m diving into one of the most practical projects of my Computer Science program. This year, our capstone project involves creating a web application with intentional security flaws, such as SQL injections and cross-site scripting. It’s designed to be a hands-on tool for learning about cybersecurity. Our goal is straightforward: build an application that shows what not to do when it comes to web security. This approach puts our classroom knowledge into real-world practice, helping us understand how to spot and fix security vulnerabilities.
I’m working with teammates Brady, DeVaan, and Ray. We’ve organized our roles flexibly, allowing us to adapt and cover all necessary aspects of the project as they arise. This flexibility has been essential in keeping the project moving smoothly, and right now, we’re just starting to integrate various technologies. This phase is about setting up the foundation of our application while planning how to maintain the educational vulnerabilities we want to include. It’s a unique challenge that will likely teach us as much about project management as it does about software development.
Team meetings have become crucial. They’re not just for progress updates but also for troubleshooting and stress management. These discussions keep us coordinated and motivated, ensuring everyone is on the same page and contributing effectively. As we start building the application and look towards the final presentation, our focus is on making sure every security flaw we introduce is clear and educational. We want this project to be useful for future students, not just a requirement for us to graduate. It’s about creating a learning tool that we can be proud of.
This capstone project is proving to be a great summary of our time in the program, emphasizing the practical application of our studies and the importance of teamwork. As I move on from OSU, I’ll be taking not just a diploma but a set of real-world skills that will influence how I approach technology and security in my future career.