605.687.81 - Mobile Application Development for the iOS Platform

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules. For online sections, the Modules can be accessed by clicking Course Content on the left menu in Canvas. Each week contains one or more sub-modules. Please check the Course Outline for a detailed overview of the course layout.

For online sections, each module contains one or more videos, slides and example source code. This content is available for all sections, online or face-to-face, but for face-to-face sections, this material is considered supplementary. The material taught in the face-to-face classroom is considered the material you must use for the course.

In face-to-face sections, I will video record the lectures using Camtasia and post them after the class meeting.

You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Introduction to Swift
• Combine and SwiftUI
• Data Persistence
• Networking
• Core Motion, Core Location and MapKit
• Core Image, Custom Controls and SceneKit
• Animations, Gestures, and Local Notifications
• AVKit and In App Purchases
• HealthKit
• ResearchKit
• Logging, User Feedback and Shortcuts
• Accessibility, Internationalization and Localization, and Unit Testing
• Deploying to the App Store

Course Goals

Explore the differences between Swift and other modern object oriented languages, and develop applications for iPhone and iPad form factor devices.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Use Xcode and the associated tool kit to develop iOS applications
• Apply the Swift concepts of optionals and functional programming
• Set up and run an iOS application in the Simulator
• Illustrate the concepts of Protocols and Delegates by developing a UITableView based iOS application
• Implement proper usage of the Model-View-Controller paradigm by developing an iOS application
• Construct a user interface using SwiftUI
• Store and retrieve data on the network by using networking and Core Data frameworks
• Distinguish between the various iOS frameworks Apple provides
• Prepare your app for distribution to the App Store

Textbooks

Not Required

Required Software

Required Software Versions

The following are the required versions of tools for this term. The LOGISTICS module contains a video describing how to obtain and install these tools. Because I do not re-record this video each term, actual downloading and installing may vary slightly. If you have questions, please ask as soon as possible. Please keep a copy of all downloaded installation files in case you need to reinstall during the term!

Xcode

You can download Xcode from the App Store . We will use Xcode 16.0 beta or ABOVE for this class. 

DO NOT UPGRADE AFTER FIRST MODULE UNLESS I INSTRUCT YOU TO DO SO! This means you should not let Software Update automatically update apps for you!

Swift

Swift comes built in with Xcode, and therefore doesn't require an additional download!  

iOS Versions

In this class we will target iOS 18 beta or above.

Student Coursework Requirements

This course is graded based on your performance in the following areas:

• 12 programming assignments (55%)
• App Development Log (15%)
• Final Project (30%)
  
  Please see the Course website for more information on each of these areas.

All assignments are due according to the dates in the course outline.

Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade (10 points) for each DAY (or partial day) late (no exceptions without timely prior coordination with the instructors). See the grading policy for assignment grading details.

Expected Conflicts: If you expect any issues with turning in work on time, please see the instructor as soon as you know. If I know in advance about business travel and expected high workloads, I can work with you. However, letting me know a day or two before an assignment is due is not acceptable (you've had time to work on the assignment prior to the interruption).

Technical Problems with Canvas: If you encounter issues while trying to submit your assignment, please immediately send me an email with your submission text and a note stating that Canvas is not being your best friend. If you submit in this manner, I will not count your submission as late.

Grading

Each day late results in a one-letter grade (10 points) drop on the assignment.

Grading Policy

Assignments will be graded from 0-100.

• A+ 100
• A 95
• A- 92
• B+ 88
• B 85
• B- 82
• C+ 78
• C 75
• C- 72
• F 0 

Regarding "A+" work. "A+" is not given for "extra credit". In fact, if you do extra things that are not in the assignment description (without getting an "ok" from the instructor), your grade will be penalized. An "A+" on an assignment means you did all functionality and have code that feels "exemplary".

When grading assignments, I will write comments describing your grade, but I will usually not note specific point-value deductions. I take this approach because far too much time has been spent in the past debating deductions of "1 point" which ended up having no effect on the assignment grade.

If you disagree with a grade you can ask us to review it. Tell us what your concerns are and I'll look at it. Sometimes I may miss something in your code due to the number of assignments I have to grade.

If this course has a large number of students, grading can take a significant amount of time and you may not receive feedback for 1-2 weeks. If I note a problem with a submission but do not return it at least 4 days before the next assignment is due, I will not count the same problem off on the next assignment unless the problem is something that is clearly spelled out in the assignment description or grading policy. For example, if you do not follow the course coding conventions spelled out in this syllabus, your grade will be maxed at A- regardless of when the previous assignment was returned.

Course Evaluation

Please be sure to fill out the mid-year and end-of-year evaluations - they help me refine the course, and I do appreciate both positive and negative feedback!

Course Policies

I know we are all working professionals, so if you have an upcoming conflict please make me aware as soon as possible.  I also understand the struggles we are all going through with COVID, so please reach out to me if you need flexibility due to any hardships you encounter through the semester.  My main goal is teaching you about iOS and having you succeed, and I will help in any way I can.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.