Development Application for Windows 8 by Eugene Kiriyan

© 2012, Eugene Kirian

Windows 8 Metro apps

Windows 8

Agenda

1. Introduction to Windows 8 Metro2. Practice3. Windows Store4. Questions

Prerequisites

• Windows 8• Visual Studio 2012• Knowledge of C#/VB.Net/C++/JavaScript• Windows LiveID

Languages and Technologies

The choice• JavaScript + HTML 5• C#/VB.Net + XAML• C++ + XAML• C++ + DirectX

C#/VB.Net XAML

C++DirectX

JavaScript HTML

C++XAML

Sandbox

App capability declarations

Metro style apps that need programmatic access to user resources such as the Pictures library or connected devices such as a webcam, must declare the appropriate capability. An app requests access by declaring capabilities in its package manifest.

App capability declarations

Capabilities• Music library• Pictures library• Videos library• Removable storage (USB, External HDD)• Microphone• Webcam• Location (GPS)• Proximity (Locate nearby devices)• Internet and public networks• Home and work networks• Enterprise authentication• Shared User Certificates• Documents library (Require to have at least one app

supported file extension)

App contracts and extensions

Metro style apps use contracts and extensions to declare the interactions that they support with other apps. These apps must include required declarations in the package manifest and call required Windows Runtime APIs to communicate with Windows and other contract participants.Contracts - an agreement between one or more apps.Extension - an agreement between an app and Windows.

App contracts and extensions

Contracts & Extensions• Account picture provider (extension)• App to App Picking contract• AutoPlay (extension)• Background tasks (extension)• Cached file updater contract• Camera settings (extension)• Contact picker (extension)• File activation (extension)• Game Explorer (extension)• Play To contract• Print task settings (extension)• Protocol activation (extension)• Search contract• Settings contract• Share contract• SSL/certificates (extension)

Application lifecycle

• App deployment• App launch/activation• App suspend/change visibility/resume• App close/crash• App removal

Application lifecycle

App packages and deployment

Package is container - Open Packing Conventions (OPC) standard. OPC defines a structured means to store data and resources for the app using a standard ZIP file.• Package manifest• Content

Installation to %ProgramFiles%\WindowsApps

File access and permissions

You can get access to:• Application install directory• Application data locations• User’s Downloads folder• Additional locations (Documents, Music,

Pictures, Videos libraries, removable devices, etc…)

Lets get started!

Windows Store

• Over 200 countries and over 100 languages to sell the app

• Developer account ISN’T available for Ukraine

For those, who can…

• 70% payoff when net sales is less than $25,000

• 80% payoff, after that• Minimum app price is $1.49

Windows Store Features

• Buy and download• Time-limited trial• Feature-limited trial• In-app purchases• Advertising (Windows Advertising)• Third-party transactions

Questions?