14 DAY TRIAL // Developers looking to get started on building their first Windows 8 Metro style app can take advantage of a range of free resources from Microsoft, as well the guidance they’ll need.
All they need to do is access the new Windows Dev Center and make their way to the “Metro style app development.”
Of course, ahead of actually getting to work, they’ll need to grab the Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 M3.
The best download for devs is the Windows Developer Preview with developer tools English, 64-bit (x64) ISO image, simply because it packs a range of tools in addition to Windows 8.
This particular ISO image of Windows 8 offers devs the Windows SDK for Metro style apps, Visual Studio 11 Express for Windows Developer Preview, Expression Blend 5 Developer Preview and no less than 28 Metro style apps.
Of course, developers can always opt to grab the plain vanilla version of Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 M3 and deploy all the solutions they need themselves.
Once they have the right tools ready, they can start leveraging the guidance offered by the software giant.
Microsoft’s Windows Dev Center can help them get started, plan, develop and differentiate apps, get insight into the Metro style app reference and even access code samples that they can use.
“The Windows Developer Preview introduces a new development platform for creating Metro style apps. The tools and samples included in the Windows SDK for Metro style Apps help you build apps that are alive with activity and vibrant content,” Microsoft notes.
“Metro style apps are designed to leverage special hardware capabilities and context information to create an experience that is tailored for the user.”
As developers must know by now, they’ll be able to take advantage of their existing set of skills when building Windows 8 Metro apps, including their knowledge of such technologies as HTML5, JavaScript, and Cascading Style Sheets, Level 3 (CSS3), or XAML, with C++, C#, or Visual Basic.
Windows 8 Developer Preview Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3) is available for download here.