This document provides an overview and introduction to developing applications for the Windows 8 platform. It covers WinRT basics, best practices for architecture and patterns like MVVM, using pickers and contracts to integrate app functionality, tiles and notifications for live updates and notifications, and resources for further information.

2. Developing on Windows 8
Power point template by
Colin Eberhardt

3. Agenda
WinRT Platform Basics
Best practices
Pickers
Contracts
Tiles
Notifications

4. Who am I
Einar Ingebrigtsen
@einari einar@dolittle.com
http://blog.dolittle.com
http://www.ingebrigtsen.info

5. The target

6. Old school interop

7. Windows RT style

8. Architecture

9. Bridging the gap
FileOpenPicker picker = new FileOpenPicker();
picker.FileTypeFilter.Add("*")a;
StorageFile file = await picker.PickSingleFileAsync();
Windows.Storage.Streams.IInputStream inputStream =
await file.OpenReadAsync();
System.IO.Stream stream = inputStream.AsStreamForRead();
System.IO.StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream);
string contents = reader.ReadToEnd();

10. Missing things
Reflection API changed
Type details through GetTypeInfo() – extension
method
Emit namespace practically empty - security

11. XAML
Originally developed for Windows Vista and
exposed as WPF
Defines what you see
Layout is by default not flowing, as in HTML
Can observe changes (Active View)

12. Tools

13. Binding
Source
Defaults to DataContext
Can use StaticResource as source
Mode
OneWay, TwoWay, OneTime – OneWay default
Validation
ValidatesOnException
ValidatesOnNotifyDataErrors
INotifyDataErrorInfo

14. Binding
StringFormat
StringFormat = „MMM.dd.yyyy‟
Null and Fallback values
TargetNullValue=„(None)‟
FallbackValue=„(Data Context Not Set)‟
IValueConverter

15. Element to Element
Can bind directly to other elements
properties
Binds by name of element

16. Events
You still have events as before – buttons can
be clicked and raise an event
RoutedEvents – bubbles through the UI

17. Async
var data = DownloadData(...);
ProcessData(data);
STOP
DownloadData ProcessData
var future = DownloadDataAsync(...);
future.ContinueWith(data => ProcessData(data));
DownloadDataAsync ProcessData

18. Async Models
Windows Runtime : IAsyncOperation<T>
.NET Framework : Task<T>
C# 5.0 – async / await

19. Async – C# style
Marked with “async” modifier
Must return void or Task<T>
Use “await” operator to cooperatively yield
control – remember to mark with “async”
Feels just like good old synchronous code

20. Patterns & Practices
MVVM
Inspired by PresentationModel by Martin Fowler
Good for decoupling – promotes testability
Compositioning
Commands
Actions / Triggers / Behaviors

21. MVVM
Model
View
Observes
ViewModel Observable

22. Compositional UIs
Navigation Header
Main Content
Footer

23. Event Aggregator
ViewModel 1 ViewModel 2
Aggregator

24. Tiles
Tap on tile to launch or switch to an app
Static default tile specified in app manifest
Two sizes:
Both sizes can have live updates

25. Live Tiles
Tiles updates using Templates provide Text-only image-only
pre-defined templates rich rendering options or combination
JPEG or PNG
only, max size 150 Optional “peek” Local or cloud
KB animation updates

26. Notification Queuing

27. Secondary Tiles

28. Windows Notification Service
Enables delivery of tile and toast notification over the
internet
Tile updates and notifications shown to the user even if
your app is not running
WNS handles communication with your app
Scales to millions of users
WNS is a free service for your app to use

29. Push Notification Overview
1. Request Channel URI
2. Register with your Cloud Service
3. Authenticate & Push Notification

30. Toast Notifications
Toast notifications deliver transient messages outside the context of the
app
Use toast notifications to get user‟s attention immediately
User is in control and can permanently turn off toast notifications from
your app
Allows quick navigation to a contextually relevant location in your app
Toast notifications are easy to invoke from your app or from the cloud

31. Toast Templates
Uses same template architecture as Live Tiles
Rich set of rendering options available

32. Contracts
Contracts enable integrating the Windows 8
experience into your app
Yields a consistent UI for all apps

33. Search
Enables your app to interact and respond to
Suggestions
Search Query

34. Settings
Consistently given one place to get search
Context sensitive to the front facing app

35. Share
Your app can share anything (text, images, binaries)
Automatically filters available applications to share to
Your app can be a share target – receive sharing from others
Add sharing target as a capability and you can receive share requests

36. Play To
Ability to stream media to compatible devices

38. Summarized
Windows RT is a huge leap, both in faith but also technically
Consistent API that feels mature from day one
Well architected solutions putting the user first
Makes us as developers focus on adding the business value

39. Resources
The samples of today
http://github.com/einari/toodeloo
Yggdrasil – IoC Container
http://github.com/dolittlestudios/yggdrasil
https://nuget.org/packages/Yggdrasil
INPC Weaver
http://github.com/SimonCropp/NotifyPropertyWeaver
WinRT Toolkit
http://jupitertoolkit.codeplex.com
Tiny IoC container - WinRT Compatible
http://microsliver.codeplex.com/

40. Resources
MVVM Light
http://mvvmlight.codeplex.com/
Setting up push notifications – registering your app
https://manage.dev.live.com/build
WAT for Windows 8 + WnsRecipe
http://watwindows8.codeplex.com/releases/view/73334
Calisto – UI Framework for WinRT
https://github.com/timheuer/callisto
Get into the store – register as a deveveloper
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/

41. Thanks for your
attention