Resources for iOS developers (Windows Store apps)

Purpose

Are you an iOS app developer? If so, you can use the info throughout this section to take your existing iOS app development skills and start applying them to developing great apps for Windows 8. Why should you build apps for Windows 8? Here are just a few of the benefits:

• Target millions more devices and users for your apps. You can code once and have a great app experience that scales across millions of devices from tablets to all-in-one PCs, from 10" to 27" screen sizes.
• Expand opportunities to make more money. Not only does Windows 8 let you keep more money per download than the Apple App Store with an 80% revenue for total sales over $25,000 USD, Windows 8 and the Windows Store also make it simple for millions of customers to find, try and buy your apps from practically anywhere in the world. The Windows Store makes it easy to distribute, update, and get paid for the apps that you develop.
• Choose from several supported programming languages, technologies, and standards. Unlike Cocoa Touch, which only uses Objective-C, Windows 8 lets you build Windows Store apps using a variety of programming languages. You can program your apps using C#, C++, or Microsoft Visual Basic, while using Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) to declaratively describe the user interface. Or you can build apps using web technologies like HTML5, Cascading Style Sheets, Level 3 (CSS3), and JavaScript. Developers looking for the best possible performance on Windows 8 can use Microsoft DirectX with C++.

In this section

Developer audience

The info throughout this section is intended for developers who are creating iOS apps and who want to create similar Windows Store apps for Windows 8.

To successfully create a Windows Store app, you should become familiar with at least one of the supported programming languages: C#, C++, Visual Basic, or JavaScript. Depending on your choice of programming language, you there are some additional technologies that you may need to start learning, like XAML, the Windows Runtime, HTML5, and CSS3. At first, this may sound a bit overwhelming, but don't worry: we'll help make it easier for you. Just click one of the links below to start going through some hands-on app-building exercises and start learning from there as you go:

• Roadmap for Windows Store apps using C# or Visual Basic
• Roadmap for Windows Store apps using C++
• Roadmap for Windows Store apps using DirectX and C++
• Roadmap for Windows Store apps using JavaScript

Run-time requirements

To successfully start creating Windows Store apps, you'll need the following at a minimum:

• A Windows Store developer account. To get one, go to the Windows Store Dashboard and follow the on-screen directions.
• Windows 8 and Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8. To get them, do one of the following:
  • If you want to use a PC to create Windows Store apps, see Get the tools.
  • If you want to use a Mac to create Windows Store apps, see Installing Windows and the dev tools on your Mac.
• A developer license for Windows 8. To get one, see Get a developer license.

Related topics

For everyone

What's a Windows Store app?

Windows Store app development: the basics

Windows 8 Product Guide for Developers

Make great Windows Store apps

For developers

Develop Windows Store apps using Visual Studio 2012

Objective-C versus C#: an introduction

Windows Dev Camps

Windows Store App Labs

For designers and developers

Design case study: iPad to Windows Store app

Download design assets for Windows Store apps

Build date: 3/5/2013