This course introduces students to the concepts behind cross platform development by first reviewing the background, use, and motivation behind the operating systems and platforms encountered in the course – Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android. It provides a high-level understanding of the differences in how the operating systems are structured and how compatibility issues between operating systems and software occur.

Students develop a better understanding of how common operating systems compare to one another, advantages and disadvantages to their use, the contexts in which they are used, and learn about the mobile development tools associated with each one.

This course will help students contextualize the various languages, environments, tools, and platforms used in mobile application development as well as understand the fundamental differences between progressive web applications, cross-platform applications, and native mobile applications.