14 DAY TRIAL // Developers will be able to leverage a range of technologies to build applications tailored to Windows 8, including immersive apps for the new Metro platform.
According to Microsoft, technologies such as JavaScript, C++, C#, Visual Basic but also HTML5 and CSS3 are available to devs looking to build Windows 8 programs.
Even though Metro apps using HTML, JS, and CSS seem to be right at home in Windows 8, the good news is that all traditional applications will continue to run. Developers can also keep using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), .NET Framework, Silverlight and XAML to build more desktop apps.
With Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) available for download this week, Microsoft also provided developers with a number of tools so that they can start building applications.
Early adopters starting to test and develop using Windows 8 Build 8102 M3 will be able to leverage a Windows Developer Preview SDK (software developer kit) for Metro apps, Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview as well as Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview.
“The Windows 8 SDK includes free versions of Microsoft Visual Studio 2011 Express and Microsoft Expression Blend, as well as the latest tools, APIs, compilers, debuggers, sample apps, documentation, templates, tutorials, and guidance from the experts. Get complete end-to-end solutions with SDK tools,” Microsoft stated.
Ales Holocek, distinguished engineer Windows – leading the team responsible for the Windows platform, revealed that Microsoft has worked to deliver a holistic app experience in Windows 8.
This is why Windows 8 packs a new API surface, the WinRT APIs, a runtime environment designed especially for Metro apps.
Holocek demoed building a simple Metro app for Windows 8, and the process was fast and streamlined. He also demonstrated the work needed to transform an old Silverlight application into a Metro app, focusing his efforts on name space changes, networking code modifications, and the adaptation of the code from the way Silverlight uses navigation commands.
“Visual Studio 2011, Express, and Expression Blend work perfectly with Windows 8 Microsoft Visual Studio 2011 Express is a free, lightweight version of the powerful Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE). Visual Studio Express is packaged with Expression Blend, a visual design tool that helps you work with HTML5 and XAML. Expression Blend also gives you access to Windows controls and an integrated tool to profile user interfaces,” the software giant added.
“To help you write games in DirectX and HLSL, Visual Studio Express has a new graphics authoring and debugging IDE. If you write device drivers, Visual Studio Express now integrates a full set of tools and interfaces to help you write, build, compile, sign, test, debug, and verify drivers, along with tools to port your existing driver fi les to new Visual Studio Express project and solution fi les.”