Monday, August 12, 2013

Develop first Windows 8 app

Developers from all over the world, unite and start making Windows 8 great! Definitely, the increasing interest of developers for Windows 8 has been a part of Microsoft’s strategy in pushing its latest and greatest OS everywhere. We’re not sure if the increasing number of apps should make the iPad be afraid, but most definitely, it will make users happy. But for developers out there that are wondering just how to create Windows 8 apps, it seems that the help is coming straight from where it should- MICROSOFT.


Tools to create Windows Store apps

Steps you need to take to be able to make Windows 8 applications

I think these are the tools that any starting Windows 8 developer would need to create Windows 8 applications. But if you think you need more, then head over this page and pick what more you think you’ll need. Sadly, I’m not a developer myself, but I would love to know how to create some beautiful Windows 8 applications that people would love. For example, you might also need the Bings Maps SDK or the Windows Azure mobile services. Now that you’ve got your developer downloads for programming Windows Store apps.
Step 1 – get your free developer licence
Basically, step one has been the download of all the free tools from above. If you’ve done that, now you need to Run Visual Studio to get a developer license. To be able to test and to create apps suitable for Windows Store (Windows 8, RT and Pro), you need first to get a licence, which is free. Here’s how Microsoft tries to convince you to create apps for their Windows Store:
A Windows Store app is a new type of app that is sold in the Windows Store and runs on Windows 8 devices. They install easily and uninstall cleanly. They run in a single window that fills the entire screen by default. They automatically work with a variety of input sources, including touch, pen, mouse, and keyboard. Instead of static icons, they use live tiles that can display notifications. You can write Windows Store apps in a variety oflanguages, such as C# and Visual Basic with XAML, C++ with XAML or DirectX, and JavaScript with HTML/CSS. Follow this guide to get the tools you need, create your own apps, and release them on the Windows Store.
Step 2 – learn some tutorials

Microsoft informs you that you don’t need to learn anything else besides what you probably already know – JavaScript with HTML/CSS, C#, Visual Basic, or C++ with XAML, C++ with DirectX. After all this, you’ll need to get through some tutorials to get even deeper in thecreation of Windows 8/Windows store applications. Here they are:
  1. JavaScript with HTML: Create your first Windows Store app using JavaScript
  2. C# or Visual Basic with XAML: Create your first Windows Store app using C# or Visual Basic
  3. C++ with XAML: Create your first Windows Store app using C++
  4. C++ with DirectX: Create your first Windows Store app using DirectX
Step 3 – plan and design your apps
Basically, this is what the users will see and this matters A LOT. Here’s what Microsft says about this:
When planning your Windows Store app, think less about what features you want to include and more about what your app should be good at. Planning ahead for different form factors, accessibility, monetization, and selling in the global market can reduce your development time and make it easier to create a high quality app and get it certified. Taking advantage of user experience guidelines and design patterns can make it easier to design an app that’s attractive and easy to use.
User experience guidelines explain how to design apps that provide a consistent, elegant, and compelling experience, and offer advice for working with specific design features (such as layout) and individual controls (such as the ListView). Design patterns are blueprints that you can follow for designing common UI features, such as navigation, commanding, touchinteraction, advertising, and branding.
And here are the tutorials that you need to learn:
Step 4 – the hardest part (develop)
This is the core part of how to create Windows 8 applications. You will learn how to create an User Interface (UI), how to create and update tiles, how to search and share with other apps and how to use devices and sensors.
  • Create the UI
  • Search and share with other apps
  • Create and update tiles
  • Use devices and sensors
Step 5 – sell your apps
Well, that’s about it. These are the tutorials, steps and tools that you need to use in order to be able to create interesting Windows 8 or Windows Store applications that will appeal to users. Get your coding on, developers! I hope this has proven helpful to you.
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