Developing Windows Store apps

Learn how to create Windows Store apps using JavaScript, C#, C++, or Visual Basic. From the new Start screen to new UI layout and controls, the presentation of your app is about showing off what it's great at.

Before you begin

Choose your preferred language from the language selector near the top, right side of the page:

• VB/C#/C++ and XAML
• JavaScript and HTML

Be sure you've read:

• Making great Windows Store apps
• Planning Windows Store apps
• Designing UX for Windows Store apps
• Writing code for Windows Store apps (JavaScript) or Writing code for Windows Store apps (C#/C++/VB)

Steps to developing Windows Store apps

1. Create a UI

   Learn how to create a user interface for your app.

2. Define application resources

   Learn how to define your app's resources to improve maintainability and localization.

3. Respond to user interaction

   Learn how to handle user interactions from touch, pen/stylus, mouse, and keyboard devices.

4. Work with data and files

   Learn how to bind data, read, write, and save to files, as well as how to manipulate XML data.

5. Connect to peers, web and network services

   Learn how to create connected apps. A connected, or network-aware app, can use the network for a variety of purposes including RSS feeds, games, and to interact with nearby devices.

6. Manage user info

   Learn how to use roaming credentials, how to authenticate users with Live Services, and how to set up single sign-on.

7. Launch and resume apps

   Learn how to launch, suspend, and resume your app while keeping app data safe and fresh.

8. Add multimedia

   Learn how to capture multimedia, play audio and video, process image files, share or stream media, and transcode multimedia.

9. Integrate devices, printers, and sensors

   Learn how to support devices like printers, cameras, sensors, removable storage, and more. You can also learn how to choose the right motion and orientation sensor for your game, how to use a light sensor to adjust screen brightness, and how to detect a user's geographic location.

10. Create Windows Runtime Components

    Learn about creating components (essentially DLLs) in C++, C#, or Visual Basic, and call into them in a simple and natural way from a Windows Store app using JavaScript.

11. Globalize your app

    Learn how to localize/globalize your app.

12. Making your app accessible

    Learn how to create apps that are accessible to the widest possible audience, including people who have impairments or disabilities.

13. Package apps

    Learn how to use Visual Studio to access the Windows Store and package your app for distribution

14. Debug and test apps

    Learn how to use the testing and debugging tools in Visual Studio.

Related topics

Roadmap for Windows Store apps using JavaScript

Roadmap for creating apps using C#, C++, or VB

Detailed UX guidelines for Windows Store apps

Packaging your app

Debugging and testing apps

Windows Store app samples

Build date: 12/7/2012