developing for windows 8 based devices
Post on 04-Aug-2015
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Aneeb KhawarComputer Science Junior
GIK Institute
Development on Windows 8
Platform
The Topic :
Choice of Topic
• The topic is fairly comprehensive and will be
conveyed in an appraising manner.
• Objective is to predispose the interest of audience
towards windows 8 development.
• Disseminate a good amount of knowledge packed
content in limited time and that too in a convincing
manner.
Agenda
• Introduction to Windows 8 applications
• Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
• Microsoft’s generous initiatives for
developers
• How steep is the learning curve ?
• The right tools for job
• Development advantages from technical
perspective
Introduction to Windows 8 applications• The introduction of Windows 8 has positively changed the
concept of a windows based application.
• From the exterior UI to internal design details, everything
has been revamped.
Say hello to modernity with the touch of elegance !
Introduction to Windows 8 applications• Extensive UI redo is the first noticeable feature.
• It can be ascribed to presenting a more user
friendly environment to touch devices.
• Convenience of the conventional non-touch user
has however been maintained (switching to
desktop mode).
• The implementation details and internal design
has also been altered with (More on that later).
• Devices that work on Windows platform include
smart phones, tablets and PCs.
• It is this versatility of this platform that makes it
all the more desirable.
Introduction to Windows 8 applications• The applications for devices are uploaded at the
relevant Stores from where the users can
download the apps of their liking with ease.
• Dedication of a platforms like Windows store and
Windows Phone store for the apps is also an
unprecedented investment of its kind.
Introduction to Windows 8 applications• The Windows stores are a work of art. With
optimized search engines, finding apps is piece
of cake.
• Surfacing the best apps has been made easy
with features like spotlight section.
• Interest specific apps can also be found with
ease based on the previous downloads as
recommendations.
• The store only hosts applications that meet all
the quality standards.
• Apps that fail the extensive screening procedure
are rejected.
• It is due to this strict quality control policy that
only the most genuine apps are there at the
store.
Introduction to Windows 8 applicationsSo long story short,
• the Windows 8 based applications be it phone,
tablet or PC are unique and interactive by design
• promise the highest degree of authenticity
• are further enhanced by the outstanding reach
of windows store that announces them globally.
Moving on to our next point.
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
• The obvious question.
• Asked by everyone from a college sophomore to
a seasoned developer.
• There are numerous fronts to address this query
on.
Lets build on them one by one.
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
1. Easy transitioning:
• The transitioning is fairly straight forward
• Basic coding practices remain the same
• Flexibility - Offers a wide array of languages
(HTML5/CSS3, DirectX/C++ and XAML/C#) to
work with makes things easy.
• Designing made easier with powerful tools
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
2. Market benefits:
• Offers a new and rising market.
• Avid chance for new developers to establish
• No saturation – even the most basic of apps
have a fair chance
• The numbers:
Windows Phone to gather 7% of smartphone market by 2018
(IDC)
Market comparison b/w Microsoft Windows and other OS’
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
• With the potential possibility of complete
transfer from Windows 7 to Windows 8, the
windows 8 based devices will by far be
numerically greater than all other devices
COMBINED.
• New devices rolling out with inbuilt Windows 8
OS by the day.
• Windows – the recommendation of
manufacturers
• 100 Million licenses sold in 6 months ! (same
trend as Windows 7)
• 40% increase in app downloads from the store
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
3. The Awesome Windows and Windows Phone
stores:
• Probably the most encouraging feature
• Reach to more than 200 countries made possible
• Apps have never been easier to find -
Discoverability
• Aesthetics unparalleled
• Serves as the perfect advertisement of your app
with its outlook
• Categorized properly
• Relatively lesser competition yet quality not
compromised due to screening procedures.
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
4. Effective business models:
• The stores offer a variety of business models to
choose from
• Free , Paid , Free with Adds , Trial , in-app
purchases and even free with donate developer
option
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
5. Great tracking of your work:
• The App summary enables developers to literally
oversee their progress
• Provides valuable feedback for betterment
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
• Serves as a tool for motivation
• Automatic progress monitoring reduces
developer workload
• Data can be used to predict user interests hence
creating ground for reasonable ideas
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
6. Monetarily best suited:
• Reasonable liberty to choose the price for
developer
• Developer to get 70% of the revenue share like
other stores
• On making the 25k USD mark, developer to get
80% of the revenue
• Essentially a token of appreciation from Microsoft
• a practice credited to Microsoft only
Why develop for Windows 8 devices ?
7. Extensive documentation and blog support:
• The Microsoft Developer Network
• Comprehensive content on literally everything
relevant
• Extensive self-explanatory code examples
• Online courses on MS Virtual Academy
• Blogs proving to be outstanding assistance
• Support from platforms not specific to Windows
8 development due to framework similarity
Microsoft’s initiatives for developers
Some insight now about the initiatives for
developers under the patronage of Microsoft.
• Targeting two different communities
• The students and new startups
Lets see what they have to offer.
Microsoft’s initiatives for developers
The DreamSpark :
• Exclusively for students
• Currently operational in more than 80 countries
• Provides the top notch software in the world free
of cost!
• Removes the pinching expenditure factor from
the minds of enthusiastic student developers
• Enables them to get hands on experience of the
development tools which makes it easier to
adapt professionally later on
Microsoft’s initiatives for developers
What do you need to avail the DreamSpark
facility ?
• The DreamSpark account of course
• Verification of your being a student via the
institution or ID based verification
• Once verified, you are all set to get your hands
on some great software for free
Microsoft’s initiatives for developers
The possible outcomes of DreamSpark program :
• Transformation of the student body in to
technically well versed individuals
• Increase in the number of Apps at the store
• Giving life to new a idea which might turn out to
be the next big thing
Microsoft’s initiatives for developers
The BizSpark :
• Provides technology and support to promising
startups
• Provides the startups with an opportunity to
have the elite Microsoft tools without any
expense
• Extends support from sign up to the publishing
of app
• App promotion in the ever increasing BizSpark
community for free
Microsoft’s initiatives for developers
Some facts about the program :
• Support to 100,000 (and counting) start ups
delivered
• 1500+ partnering to the program
• 165+ countries have been reached
• 35,000 graduates have been entertained
• The program has had its impact for over 5 years
now
• Collaborations between startups and formation
of an informed community
How steep is the learning curve ?
How much learning should one already have and
how much more does one have to know ?
Lets present some rational arguments and see if
they address the issue.
• Gives the first scares
• The question is valid particularly for the students
who intend to develop for the Windows 8 devices
and are unfamiliar with it.
• It is also valid for developers who intend to make
a shift from some other platform to Windows 8.
How steep is the learning curve ?
• The Windows 8 development has been made
flexible
• Supporting a wide array of languages which
include C++ , VB and C# with the combination
of XAML for the UI building OR JavaScript along
with some HTML5 and CSS
• Most of the students are adequately capable to
work with one of these options at least
• For those who are not, there exists a fair deal of
resource to learn from
How steep is the learning curve ?
• The general coding practices are to remain the
same
• Making a shift from some other platform too is
not as tricky as it may seem
Consider the following breakdown :
• .NET developers can adapt like a charm bringing
to use their skills of C# or VB development
• Web developers can do fine with JavaScript for
the coding and HTML/CSS for the design
• C++ developers can make it with the same ease
thanks to formidable Visual Studio
How steep is the learning curve ?
So how steep is the learning curve ?
Not so much provided you are willing to go the
extra mile
The right tools for job
Microsoft provides great tools for development.
The development tools from Microsoft are the best
according to many.
So what is required to start ?
• Depends on the forum you have chosen to
develop for.
• Windows 8.1 SDK that comes in as a part of the
OS
• Windows phone SDK that has in it the Windows
Phone Emulator
• On top of everything else there is the powerful
Visual Studio
The right tools for job
The Visual Studio IDE:
• The best bet for .NET development with powerful
features for Windows 8
• Conventional features relevant to general
programing include IntelliSense, refactoring tool
for renaming, automatic code formatting, backed
by numerous extensions and many other
features that make it desirable
• Coming to Windows 8 specific features, the
Blend that comes with Visual Studio has
established a repute of the great XAML designer
that operates at a blazing speed.
The technical perspective
Lets get into some technical details of Windows 8
applications and see if they depict any efficiency.
Application Life Cycle:
• The not running state is when the application is
yet to start and ‘it is no where in the memory’
• App activation and transitioning to running
state
• Checks the previous execution state and
resumes it if its there
The technical perspective
• The suspended state is when the user closes
the application, the state is saved to resume
from the same point at a later stage
• Terminated Or Close state is when the
application state in memory is removed which
completely shuts it down.
The technical perspective
Complete separation of UI from App logic:
• Increases code reusability as the code is not UI
design specific
• Developers to code and designers to design
• Makes thing tidier and simpler
• Achieved through the MVVM design pattern
The MVVM design pattern:
• Confirms separation of App logic from UI
The technical perspective• The View is UI page created with
XAML. It may consist of multiple
pages that are to be linked together.
• Model serves as the data element
that is to be presented in the View.
for instance, a picture would be the
Model of a pictures album app.
• View Model can be thought of as the logical layer
that combines the View and Model together.
The technical perspective
Code sharing:
• Code sharing between different devices
• Possible due to similar .NET engine
• The concept of sharing has redefined versatility
There obviously are many technical advantages
associated to the Windows 8 platform. Discussing
them all in depth however is not the scope of this
presentation.
Recapitulating the key points• With the introduction of Windows 8 concept,
Apps have been taken to a whole new level
• Windows 8 has everything to offer be it phones ,
PCs or tablets
• Developers have every reason to come onboard
considering all the benefits being offered
• The market is rich and unsaturated
• Store is great
• Encouraging initiatives from Microsoft
Recapitulating the key points• Can do with even a basic understanding of
programming in general
• Tools are great and can be acquired for free
through the Microsoft Initiatives
• The Apps are technically sound
And that would be all
Thank you
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