[This documentation is preliminary and is subject to change.]

Windows 8 Release Preview introduces a new type of application: the Metro style app. Metro style apps have a brand new look and feel, run on a variety of devices, and you sell them on the Windows Store.

You can develop Metro style apps in a variety of languages:

• If you know web development technologies, you can develop a Metro style app using HTML5, Cascading Style Sheets, Level 3 (CSS3), and JavaScript.

• If you have developed .NET, Windows Presentation Foundation, or Microsoft Silverlight applications, you can develop a Metro style app using XAML, with code-behind in C++, C#, or Visual Basic.

• If you know DirectX, you can develop a Metro style DirectX app using native C++ and HLSL to take full advantage of graphics hardware.

This guide tells you why you want to develop Metro style apps, where to get the tools you need, and how to build your first app.

Important  Metro style app development is supported only on Windows 8 Release Preview. You can't develop Metro style apps on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2012.

1. Get set up

Start here to learn about Metro style apps and get the tools you need to create them.

• A. What's a Metro style app?

  At this point, you might be asking, "OK, so what are Metro style apps and how do they differ from desktop apps?" Read this article to learn about what makes Metro style apps different.

• B. Get the tools

  Download Windows 8 and the free developer tools you need to create Metro style apps: Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2012 RC for Windows 8, Blend for Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 RC for Windows 8, the Windows 8 software development kit (SDK), and project templates for creating new Metro style apps.

• C. Get a free developer license

  Before you can start creating Metro style apps, you need a developer license. Fortunately, it's quick and easy to get one.

2. Build your first app

After you download the tools and get a developer license, you're ready to choose a language and create your first app.

3. Learn the tools and templates

Now that you got your feet wet, learn more how the developer tools can help you design and create apps.

• Develop Metro style apps using Visual Studio 2012 RC

  Although the Getting started tutorials have you use Visual Studio, they barely touch on the many features it provides. Read this topic to learn more about how Visual Studio can help you create and deploy Metro style apps.

• Templates to speed up your app development

  Visual Studio and Blend project templates provide a starting point for creating Metro style apps. The topics in this section describe project and item templates for Metro style apps

• Design Metro style apps using Blend

  Blend provides the most support for designing a great-looking user interface for your Metro style app. In this section, learn how to use Blend and complete a tutorial that helps you design a game using Blend.

4. Learn how to make great Metro style apps

To really make your app stand out, we recommend that you follow design principles . Follow these guidelines to make your Metro style app great.

5. Download samples

Sometimes, the best way to learn something is through example. We created hundreds of SDK samples to show how key features work. Learn how to download, build, and run samples from the MSDN Gallery for Metro style app samples.

What's next?

Check out What's next to get a tour of the Windows Dev Center.

Build date: 5/31/2012