While Microsoft has pushed hard for developers to bring apps to Windows, iOS, Android, and Windows are still distinct operating systems. With that comes elements that appear on some operating systems that are either labelled differently, function differently, or are not existent on other platforms. To help developers make apps on the Windows platform Microsoft has created a large chart that clarifies these differences.
A Windows blog post breaks down the general idea. A concept map breaks down concepts and elements of the three operating systems into fifteen sections including user interface, app to app communication, custom inputs and more. They compare this to the Rosetta Stone tablet which was used to break the language barrier over two thousand years ago.
The chart has a pretty simple layout. It defines the general concept, has Android, iOS, and Windows 10 listed with their respective version of it or details regarding it. For example, under peer to peer navigation it shows how Android uses tabs, swipe views and navigation drawers, while iOS uses tab bar controllers, split view controllers and page view controllers. In contrast Windows 10 uses tabs/pivots and the navigation pane/split view.
Overall the chart is designed to be a companion guide for developers trying to make apps in the Windows ecosystem that are more familiar with other operating systems. The full chart can be found on MSDN with a further explanation of the guide.
