Expectations for CMSC436

The following is material we expect you to know beforehand. Make sure you review these topics as needed before the semester begins. Note that there are multiple versions of this course, using different development environments.

• How to install new software without hand-holding, including diagnosing and fixing issues
• Proficiency in an OO programming language
• Learning a new programming language and environment
• Know what a Thread is
• Following a specification that leaves room for interpretation and creativity

Having a smartphone is highly recommended, though not essential. Developing for an iPhone requires having a Mac, but Android development can be done on any platform, and most, if not all, of the work can be done using a simulator.

Harware Recommendations

Application development requires more computing power than you will have needed in most of your classes. You should check the following sites for their hardware and software recommendations. Pay close attention to memory, CPU, and disk space, and keep in mind these are in addition to what other programs on your system might need. In May 2024, the recommendations are roughly 8 cores, 16GB of RAM, and 60–70GB of free disk space.

• Android Studio — This has the build utilities for Android phones, and is available for all platforms. Emulators might require up to 2GB of additional disk space each.
• Xcode — This has the build utilities for iOS, and requires a Mac. Apple does not provide system recommendations, but generally speaking, you will need a Mac from within the past two or three years. To install Xcode, expect to need as much as 20 times the listed size of the application.
• Flutter — This is a cross-platform development environment (Android, iOS, and more), and requires also installing Android Studio or Xcode (possibly both). Some features are available for Android emulators that are not available for iPhone simulators, so if your section is using Flutter, you should install Android Studio whichever platform you are primarly developing for.

If your current system does not meet at least the minimum requirements, you are unlikely to be able to complete the coursework. If you are not close to or above the recommended requirements, you are likely to experience some substantial slowdowns.

If you need to purchase a new computer, we strongly recommend a desktop system, not a laptop, because you will get considerably more power for your money; or, to put it differently, considerably less money for the power you will need.