How much code in a computer science thesis? I'm working in software development and plan to start a part-time masters degree.

I've read in some places that a thesis shouldn't have much code and should use pseudo-code instead. Then on other sites I see thesis that seem to center around a newly developed code base. Then other example thesis relating to mechanizations seem to include code, schematics, and 3d designs.

Are some of these examples I'm seeing project streams or can a thesis still include these?
For someone who's already enrolled, this is prime ‘ask your supervisor’ territory, since thesis requirements and expectations vary enormously between countries, universities, departments, and research groups.

If you’re not enrolled yet and want to gauge the code requirements at a particular department before deciding to do a Master’s there, you have a few options:


Many universities have a publicly accessible, online research repository where theses are deposited. Download some recent Master’s theses from your department of interest and see what they do.
If your department of interest is not too hard for you to reach physically, you can go to their library and peruse hard-copies of theses.
Just about every university should have a written handbook for theses, and these are often publicly available for download. You may find some guidance for code inclusion here.
Contact a professor at the department, or an alumnus of the department, to ask your question. It can be hard to get a reply to an out-of-the-blue email to an academic, but if you are seriously considering study there, and make this clear in your enquiry, your chances should improve :).


Visiting the department, looking at past theses, and making contact with professors are of course things you'll want to do anyway if you’re thinking of applying to that department, so checking the amount of code needed in a thesis is really just another item to add to your checklist when you’re finding out about the institution.