May 2015

Volume 30 Number 5

An Introduction to Building Windows Apps for Windows 10 Devices

Windows 10 : An Introduction to Building Windows Apps for Windows 10 Devices

Andy Wigley

Windows 10 is the first OS to work across every Windows device. Andy Wigley and Jerry Nixon explore the emergence of Windows 10 and present a sample XAML app to demonstrate how developers can build universal apps for all Windows devices.

Any App, Any DeveloperColumn

First Word : Any App, Any Developer

S. Somasegar

S. "Soma" Somasegar guides development of programming languages, runtimes and other developer tools and services at Microsoft. With the Microsoft Build conference kicking off in San Francisco, Somasegar offers insight into Microsoft's priorities now and moving forward.

Analyze Performance While Debugging in Visual Studio 2015

Visual Studio 2015 : Analyze Performance While Debugging in Visual Studio 2015

Charles Willis

The new Diagnostic Tools window in Visual Studio 2015 can help you analyze performance as a regular part of your debugging workflow. You can use the new PerfTips feature to time sections of code between breakpoints and steps, the 6Diagnostic Tools window to monitor CPU and Memory, and take snapshots to drill deep into memory growth and leaks.

First DayColumn

Upstart : First Day

Ryder Donahue

It's one thing to start a new job. It's quite another to go from full-time student and part-time coder to a member of Microsoft's Xbox development team. In the inaugural Upstart column, Ryder Donahue talks about the challenges, surprises and frustrations he encountered during his first six months at Microsoft, and reveals some of the lessons he learned in the process.

Use IntelliTrace to Diagnose Issues Faster

Visual Studio 2015 : Use IntelliTrace to Diagnose Issues Faster

Angelos Petropoulos

IntelliTrace extends the debugger in Visual Studio 2015 and lets developers record historical debugging information as applications are running. In this article, learn how IntelliTrace helps developers execute testing steps to reproduce issues, then use historical debugging to identify the root causes.

Adding Compile-Time Type Checking to PrintfColumn

Windows with C++ : Adding Compile-Time Type Checking to Printf

Kenny Kerr

Kenny Kerr continues to improve printf in modern C++ by adding compile-time type checking without sacrificing performance.

What Every Programmer Should Know About Compiler Optimizations, Part 2

Compilers : What Every Programmer Should Know About Compiler Optimizations, Part 2

Hadi Brais

Hadi Brais continues his series on the optimization capabilities of the Visual C++ compiler by delving into register allocation and instruction scheduling.

The EF6, EF7 and ASP.NET 5 SoupColumn

Data Points : The EF6, EF7 and ASP.NET 5 Soup

Julie Lerman

Julie Lerman discusses the difference between the next version of .NET and what ASP.NET 5 apps will run on, then explains how Entity Framework 6 and Entity Framework 7 fit into the mix.

2D Game Engines for the Web

Game Development : 2D Game Engines for the Web

Michael Oneppo

Michael Oneppo builds the same game in three different popular 2D Web game engines, showing what the modern Web has to offer for new game developers.

End-to-End Testing in Modern Web Sites and AppsColumn

Modern Apps : End-to-End Testing in Modern Web Sites and Apps

Rachel Appel

As software and apps for all platforms become increasingly complex, it becomes more important than ever to add testing to your development process. Testing helps ensure app performance and accuracy, and can greatly improve the quality of your apps.

Gone ViralColumn

Don't Get Me Started : Gone Viral

David Platt

Thirty six years ago, humanity all but eradicated the deadly smallpox virus. Now the disease that killed nearly half a billion people in the 20th century alone has found a new host--the computer. David Platt explains why this idea should concern us all.

Introducing UpstartColumn

Editor's Note : Introducing Upstart

Michael Desmond

The times they are a-changin', and Microsoft understands that it needs to change with them, too. The challenge: Capture the attention and loyalty of young developers who best know Windows as that operating system their parents use at work.