Beginning Windows 8 Application Development

Beginning Windows 8 Application Development

Released October 2012
Publisher(s): Wrox
ISBN: 9781118012680

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Book description

Learn to use exciting new development tools and create applications for Windows 8

If you're a beginning developer, there's no better place to get up to speed on the Windows 8 SDK than this Wrox guide. A team of Microsoft experts provides a complete course in Windows 8 programming, helping you take full advantage of the innovative new SDK. Written in an easy-to-read style, this book is packed with reusable examples that showcase the endless possibilities of the Windows SDK and also introduces the new Windows 8 app store.

It explains how to set up the development environment and covers user interface design, using special effects and graphics, working with C# and C++, and much more.

  • Provides a complete introduction to the Windows SDK and Windows 8, starting with setting up the development environment and building your first application

  • Covers user interface design, touch- and event-driven design elements, leveraging windows-based services, and offline application development with HTML 5

  • Explores creating C# applications for the Windows 8 system, XNA 4 and Silverlight 5 considerations, and the role of C++

  • Shows how to debug, certify and deploy your applications

  • Introduces the new Windows 8 app store and offers advice on marketing your apps

Beginning Windows 8 Application Development is perfect for anyone who's ready to get started developing apps for the exciting new Windows 8 OS.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Part I: Introduction to Windows 8 Application Development
    1. Chapter 1: A Brief History of Windows Application Development
    2. The Life of Windows
    3. History of APIs and Tools
    4. Catch-22 of Windows Application Development
    5. Summary
    6. Chapter 2: Using Windows 8
      1. Two Worlds, One Operating System
      2. Input Methods
      3. Logging In
      4. The Start Screen
      5. The Windows Charm Bar
      6. The Windows Desktop
      7. Summary
    7. Chapter 3: Windows 8 Architecture from a Developer’s Point of View
      1. Windows 8 Development Architecture
      2. Understanding Windows Runtime
      3. .NET Framework 4.5
      4. Picking the Appropriate Technology for Your Project
      5. Summary
    8. Chapter 4: Getting to Know Your Development Environment
      1. Introducing the Toolset
      2. A Short Tour of the Visual Studio IDE
      3. Lighting Up Your Applications with Expression Blend
      4. Summary
  3. Part II: Creating Windows 8 Applications
    1. Chapter 5: Principles of Modern Windows Application Development
      1. Windows 8 Style Applications
      2. Asynchronous Development Platform
      3. Summary
    2. Chapter 6: Creating Windows 8 Style Applications with HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript
      1. HTML5 and CSS on the Web
      2. HTML5 Applications on Windows Runtime
      3. Creating Windows 8 Style Applications with JavaScript
      4. Summary
    3. Chapter 7: Using XAML to Create Windows 8 Style User Interfaces
      1. Describing the User Interface Using XAML
      2. Using Namespaces
      3. Understanding the Layout Management System
      4. Reusable Resources in XAML
      5. Basic Controls in Windows 8 Style Applications
      6. Working with Data
      7. Summary
    4. Chapter 8: Working with XAML Controls
      1. Using Animations in Your Application
      2. Designing the Visual Look of a Control
      3. Working with Complex Controls
      4. Summary
    5. Chapter 9: Building Windows 8 Style Applications
      1. The Lifecycle of a Windows 8 Application
      2. Deploying Windows 8 Apps
      3. Commanding Surfaces
      4. Persisting Application Data
      5. Applications and the Start Screen
      6. Summary
    6. Chapter 10: Creating Multi-Page Applications
      1. Navigation Basics
      2. Working with Pages
      3. Using the Split Application and Grid Application Templates
      4. Summary
    7. Chapter 11: Building Connected Applications
      1. Integrating with the Operating System and Other Apps
      2. Accessing the Internet
      3. Accessing Windows Live
      4. Summary
    8. Chapter 12: Leveraging Tablet Features
      1. Accommodating Tablet Devices
      2. Building Location-Aware Applications
      3. Using Sensors
      4. Summary
  4. Part III: Advancing to Professional Windows 8 Development
    1. Chapter 13: Creating Windows 8 Style Applications with C++
    2. Microsoft and the C++ Language
    3. C++ and Windows 8 Apps
    4. Discovering C++ Features with Visual Studio
    5. Summary
    6. Chapter 14: Advanced Programming Concepts
      1. Building Solutions with Multiple Languages
      2. Background Tasks
      3. Input Devices
      4. Summary
    7. Chapter 15: Testing and Debugging Windows 8 Applications
      1. The Quality of Your Software
      2. Becoming Familiar with Debugging
      3. Introduction to Software Testing
      4. Summary
    8. Chapter 16: Introducing the Windows Store
      1. Getting to Know the Windows Store
      2. The Developer Registration Process
      3. Summary
  5. Part IV: Appendices
    1. Appendix A: Answers to Exercises
      1. Chapter 1 Exercise Answers
      2. Chapter 2 Exercise Answers
      3. Chapter 3 Exercise Answers
      4. Chapter 4 Exercise Answers
      5. Chapter 5 Exercise Answers
      6. Chapter 6 Exercise Answers
      7. Chapter 7 Exercise Answers
      8. Chapter 8 Exercise Answers
      9. Chapter 9 Exercise Answers
      10. Chapter 10 Exercise Answers
      11. Chapter 11 Exercise Answers
      12. Chapter 12 Exercise Answers
      13. Chapter 13 Exercise Answers
      14. Chapter 14 Exercise Answers
      15. Chapter 15 Exercise Answers
      16. Chapter 16 Exercise Answers
    2. Appendix B: Useful Links
      1. Code Samples
      2. Guidelines
      3. Windows Runtime
      4. Language References
      5. Controls
  6. About the Authors
  7. About the Technical Editor
  8. Acknowledgments
  9. Introduction
  10. Advertisement

Product information

  • Title: Beginning Windows 8 Application Development
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2012
  • Publisher(s): Wrox
  • ISBN: 9781118012680