Develop
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Create a UI
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Add functionality
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Monetize
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Package and test
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Make a great first impression. Design your layout and navigation, and add controls, tiles, and notifications with help from the code, templates, and guidance in these UI-focused topics.
- Controls list (XAML or HTML)
- Add ListView or SemanticZoom (XAML or HTML)
- Work with tiles and notifications (XAML or HTML)
- See Universal Windows app samples for UI and controls
See all how-tos for XAML, HTML, and DirectX.
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Add features with help from our code. From managing files to enabling geolocation, the code and steps in these guides help you complete specific tasks in new or existing apps.
- Work with data and files (XAML or HTML)
- Connect to networks and web services (XAML or HTML)
- Integrate with sensors and devices (XAML or HTML)
- See all Universal Windows app samples
See all of our how-tos for XAML, HTML, or DirectX.
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Choose your business model. Design your app with monetization in mind. The code in these how-tos helps you create a trial version of a paid app, offer in-app purchases, and show ads using the Microsoft Ad SDK.
- Add in-app purchases and trials (XAML or HTML)
- Add in-app purchases to a DirectX game
- Advertising with the Microsoft Ad SDK
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Build your reputation on quality. Validate your app package, analyze CPU usage with performance tools, and learn about certification tests. Get your packaging and testing info here.
- Run the Windows App Certification Kit
- Analyze performance with VS tools
- Tools for testing Windows Phone apps
- Prepare your Windows Store game for publishing
See all topics on debugging and testing.
Coming from iOS or Android?
Map the tasks and platform features you’re familiar with to Windows with these customized tools, guides, and short videos.
Resources for Android devs
Use the API mapping tool to find the Windows Runtime equivalents to Android APIs. Learn how enabling tasks differs between platforms or how to use SQLite or Azure Mobile Services in your Store app.
Resources for iOS devs
Prep your Mac for Store app development and find the Windows Runtime equivalents to iOS APIs. See how UI elements and layouts in Store apps compare to those in iOS, and learn to replicate iOS features in Store apps.
DirectX game development
- Add features like graphics and input controls
- See the code behind Reversi and Marble Maze game samples
- Port a game from DirectX 9 or OpenGL ES 2.0 to DirectX 11.1
- Add in-app purchases
- Get your game ready for publishing
Learn more
App architecture
Guidelines
Sample-based guides
Partner resources
Update your Windows Phone 8 app
If you want to take advantage of new Windows Phone 8.1 features, you can either migrate your Windows Phone 8 app to a Windows Phone Store app or upgrade it to Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1. Not sure which choiceis right for you? What’s next for Windows 8 Phone developers compares the options.
Migrate to Windows Phone Store
Find out which Windows Runtime APIs map to Windows Phone 8 features.
Update to Windows Phone Silverlight 8.1
Follow these steps to upgrade your app and learn how the update affects published apps.
Know the tools
Get the most from Visual Studio
These topics provide in-depth info on the templates, tools, and capabilities Visual Studio provides.
- Download the tools
- Create a universal app project
- Design your UI with Blend
- Use Visual Studio Ultimate tools for DirectX programming
- See more topics on Visual Studio
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