Windows 8 development resources - Microsoft UK Faculty Connection - Site Home

Over the past few weeks we have been travelling across the country to run Windows 8 events.

So Get started building Windows 8 Apps

1. Apply to join our UK Windows 8 for Application Developer LinkedIn Group.

2. We will reply asking you for some details of what it is you are building and then admit you into the group.

3. You build a great app following the guidance that we have online and which meets the Store certification requirements.

4. We will use the LinkedIn Group to invite you to an Application Excellence Lab at Microsoft in Reading where you’ll work with an engineer to ensure certification requirements are being met and that the app is providing a great experience to the user.

5. You leave the lab with a registration code that lets you begin the app submission process at the Windows Store

Getting Started building an App

Here are some recommended links to help with planning & designing Metro style apps…

· Watch 8 traits of great Metro style apps session from Build, to understand the key platform features and Metro design principles

· Read Planning Metro style apps, which walks you through the planning process to ensure your app has clear goals and a compelling “great at” statement

· If you have an existing site/app, read these design case studies to explore how to reimagine your web site or iPad app using Metro design principles

· Point your designers at the UX guidelines, checklists, PhotoShop templates etc on http://design.windows.com.

Key topics to help you design your first app are:

Grid system and app silhouette

Text and typography

Additionally there is lots of content, tools, samples and downloads on http://dev.windows.com. You can download the app samples and use the forums to ask questions.

Here are set of great Bookmarks in alphabetical order

Animations are purposeful, create continuity and convey confidence to the user (Animating your UI with the Animation Library)
Animations are purposeful, create continuity and convey confidence to the user (Guidelines and checklist for edge-based UI animations)
Animations are purposeful, create continuity and convey confidence to the user (Guidelines and checklist for list animations)
Animations are purposeful, create continuity and convey confidence to the user (Guidelines and checklist for transient UI animations)
Animations are purposeful, create continuity and convey confidence to the user (Guidelines and checklist for transition animations)
App does not have other commanding surfaces
App follows local vs. global commanding guidelines - (Commanding design for Metro style apps)
App fully renders each page within 5 seconds (Preventing Hangs in Windows Applications)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Designing flexible layouts)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (HTML and DOM API changes list)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features and differences)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Image and text list (collection snap) template)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Image and text list (landing snap) template)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Media Queries)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Planning Metro style apps)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Scaling to different screens - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs)
App handles snap even if it pauses or does nothing (Windows 8 Snap sample)
App has a beautiful, branded tile (Guidelines and checklist for tiles)
App has no options or preferences anywhere but settings charm ( Inappropriate use)
App has no options or preferences anywhere but settings charm (Building a good app settings experience in XAML)
App has no options or preferences anywhere but settings charm (Guidelines for app settings)
App has no options or preferences anywhere but settings charm (SettingsCommand class)
App has no options or preferences anywhere but settings charm (Windows 8 App settings sample)
App implements a complete scenario (Certification requirements for Windows apps)
App implements search contract - (Guidelines and checklist for search)
App implements settings (via charm) (Guidelines for app settings)
App implements settings (via charm) (Windows 8 App settings sample)
App implements share contract (Adding share)
App implements share contract (Guidelines and checklist for sharing content)
App implements share contract (Sharing content)
App implements share contract (Windows 8 Sharing content source app sample)
App implements share contract (Windows 8 Sharing content target app sample)
App implements signin signout functionality via settings charm (Adding app settings)
App implements signin signout functionality via settings charm (Guidelines for app settings)
App implements signin signout functionality via settings charm (Web authentication broker )
App is functional while snapped (Guidelines for snapped and fill views)
App is functional while snapped (Windows 8 Snap sample)
App looks good at differnet form factors and aspect ratios (Scaling to different screens)
App makes appropriate usage of Background Task - (download Background Tasks - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details)
App Makes Appropriate Use of Appbar (Commanding design for Metro style apps)
App Makes Appropriate Use of Appbar (Guidelines and checklist for app bars)
App roams data to the cloud (ApplicationDataContainerSettings class)
App roams data to the cloud (Guidelines for roaming application data)
App roams data to the cloud (quickstart Roaming application data C#)
App roams data to the cloud (quickstart Roaming application data JS )
App scales at high-DPI - (Scaling to different screens)
App UI is always responsive, there is progress indicator in long running operations (Guidelines and checklist for progress controls)
App UI is always responsive, there is progress indicator in long running operations (How to improve performance in your Metro style app )
App UI is always responsive, there is progress indicator in long running operations (IAsyncOperationWithProgressTResult, TProgress.Progress property)
App UI is always responsive, there is progress indicator in long running operations (Keeping apps fast and fluid with asynchrony in the Windows Runtime)
App UI is always responsive, there is progress indicator in long running operations (quickstart using the await operator for asynchronous programming)
Appbar works in snapped state (or at least it does not overlap or cramp) (Guidelines and checklist for app bars)
Appbar works in snapped state (or at least it does not overlap or cramp) (Windows 8 XAML AppBar control sample)
Application can function while off-line ( quickstart Local application data C#)
Application can function while off-line (Application data)
Application can function while off-line (ApplicationCache object)
Application can function while off-line (Guidelines for using sensitive devices)
Application can function while off-line (HTML Enhancements in Windows Internet Explorer 8)
Application can function while off-line (quickstart Local application data JS)
Application can function while off-line (quickstart Temporary application data C#)
Application can function while off-line (quickstart Temporary application data JS)
Application is fully functional on machine that does not have touch (Guidelines for user interaction)
Application is fully functional on machine that does not have touch (Touch interaction design)
Application must pass WACK test ( Windows ACK White Paper)
Application must pass WACK test (How to test your app with the Windows App Certification Kit)
Application suspends in the alloted time (Application lifecycle)
Application suspends in the alloted time (Guidelines for app suspend and resume)
Application suspends in the alloted time (Windows 8 App activation and suspension sample JS)
Appropriate data for PDP is available (More about your app's description)
Appropriate data for PDP is available (Naming and describing your app)
Appropriate data for PDP is available (Package details)
Avoid Brand Duplications on Tiles (Choosing a tile template)
Avoid Brand Duplications on Tiles (Guidelines and checklist for tiles)
Avoid Brand Duplications on Tiles - (Choosing a tile template)
Avoid Brand Duplications on Tiles - (Guidelines and checklist for tiles)
Behaves well under metered network - (Certification requirements for Windows apps)
Behaves well under metered network - (Developing connected applications)
Behaves well under metered network - (quickstart Managing connections on metered networks)
Cache Data for Offline Use (Building offline access in Metro style apps and websites using HTML5 )
Cache Data for Offline Use (Building Offline Experiences with HTML5 AppCache and IndexedDB )
Can be 100% functional on machine that does not have touch (Guidelines for user interaction)
Can be 100% functional on machine that does not have touch (Handling user input)
Content is the Primary Navigation Mechanism (Navigation design for Metro style apps)
Continues to work if temporarily disconnected or low bandwidth (quickstart Managing connection state changes)
Continues to work if temporarily disconnected or low bandwidth (Troubleshooting and debugging network connections)
Continues to work if temporarily disconnected or low-bandwidth - (quickstart Managing connection state changes (Preliminary))
Continues to work if temporarily disconnected or low-bandwidth - (Troubleshooting and debugging network connections (Preliminary))
Defer work that is not required at startup (Best practices for your app's startup performance)
Defer work that is not required at startup (Certification requirements for Windows apps)
Embraces Windows 8 personality (8 traits of great Metro style apps)
Embraces Windows 8 personality (Making great Metro style apps)
Embraces Windows 8 personality - (8 traits of great Metro style apps BUILD2011 Channel 9)
Embraces Windows 8 personality - (Making great Metro style apps)
Flyouts are used for transient, light dismiss UI. Not for other content (Guidelines and checklist for Flyouts)
Flyouts are used for transient, light dismiss UI. Not for other content (Popup class)
Flyouts are used for transient, light dismiss UI. Not for other content (WinJS.UI.Flyout object)
Follows and respects standard Metro silhouette (Understanding the Windows 8 silhouette)
Has a clear, articulable mission and the scope for the app matches the description - (Planning Metro style apps)
Has feedback on touch interactions - (Guidelines for user interaction)
Has feedback on touch interactions - (Touch interaction design)
HTML-JS application uses byte-code caching - (Advanced Save Options Dialog Box)
HTML-JS application uses byte-code caching - (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript features and differences)
HTML-JS application uses byte-code caching - (Reducing your app's loading time)
If using extended Splash Screen, does it use cached data after first launch - (ApplicationData class)
Launching from a contract should implement proper navigation - (App contracts and extensions)
Launching from a contract should implement proper navigation - (Guidelines and checklist for search)
Launching from a contract should implement proper navigation - (How to handle protocol activation)
Leverages Animation Library (WinJS.UI.Animation Namespace)
Leverages semantic zoom appropriately - (Guidelines for Semantic Zoom)
Make Use of Secondary Tiles - (Guidelines and checklist for secondary tiles)
Make Use of Secondary Tiles - (Working with tiles, badges, and toast notifications)
Makes appropriate use of sensors (Location driver guidelines for power and performance)
Makes appropriate use of sensors (quickstart detecting a user's location)
Makes appropriate use of sensors (Responding to motion and orientation sensors)
Minimize navigational chrome that are persistent on the UI such as tabs or sections or filters that are not in dropdowns - (Navigation design for Metro style apps)
Must meet certification requirements - (Certification requirements for Windows apps)
Must not depend or try to communicate w 3rd party broker or desktop apps - (.NET for Metro style apps overview)
Must not depend or try to communicate w 3rd party broker or desktop apps - (App capability declarations)
Must not depend or try to communicate w 3rd party broker or desktop apps - (Launcher class)
Must override manifest with descriptive information about the app - (App packages and deployment)
Navigation is not in the appbar - (Guidelines and checklist for app bars)
Navigation is not in the appbar - (quickstart adding an app bar with commands)
Navigation is not in the appbar - (quickstart adding app bars)
Pans and scrolls in single axis to create sense of stability - (Guidelines for panning)
Performance - Releases expensive objects early - (Performance best practices for C# and Visual Basic)
Protects Secrets or Sensitive Data (Developing secure apps)
Release memory upon suspend - (Application lifecycle)
Release memory upon suspend - (CoreApplication.Suspending event)
Release memory upon suspend - (Guidelines for app suspend and resume)
Release memory upon suspend - (WebUIApplication.suspending event)
Relies on packaged content, not network content - (Analyzing the performance of Windows Metro style apps)
Relies on packaged content, not network content - (Best practices for your app's startup performance)
Relies on packaged content, not network content - (Reducing your app's loading time)
Respects and implements the eight standard windows gestures - (Touch interaction design)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Building a power-smart general-purpose Windows)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (download Background Networking - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (download Background Tasks - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Guidelines and checklist for lock screen tiles)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Improving power efficiency for applications)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Lock screen overview)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Updating live tiles without draining your battery)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Windows 8 Background task sample)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Windows 8 ControlChannelTrigger TCP socket sample)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Windows 8 Lock screen apps sample)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Windows 8 Push and periodic notifications client-side sample)
Respects the allotted CPU cycles for background processing - (Windows 8 Raw notifications sample)
Runs in less than 500 MB - (Windows 8 Consumer Preview frequently asked questions)
Saves least amount needed at suspend - (Guidelines for app suspend and resume)
Saves least amount needed at suspend - (How to suspend an app .Net)
Saves least amount needed at suspend - (How to suspend an app Javascript)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (Application data)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (Application lifecycle)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (Application.OnLaunched method)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (ApplicationData.LocalFolder localFolder property)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (ApplicationData.LocalSettings localSettings property)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (ApplicationData.RoamingFolder roamingFolder property)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (ApplicationData.RoamingSettings roamingSettings property)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (Guidelines for roaming application data)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (How to activate an app .Net)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (How to activate an app)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (How to resume an app .Net)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (How to resume an app)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (How to suspend an app .Net)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (How to suspend an app)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (LaunchActivatedEventArgs class)
Saves transient state and recovers it at launch after terminate - (Windows 8 App activation and suspension sample)
Search contract works both when in-app, and when launched from Start screen - (Adding search to a Metro style app)
Search contract works both when in-app, and when launched from Start screen - (Guidelines and checklist for search)
Search contract works both when in-app, and when launched from Start screen - (search integrating into the Windows 8 search experience BUILD2011 Channel 9)
Sync refresh rate with the monitor - (idxgidevice1SetMaximumFrameLatency method)
Sync refresh rate with the monitor - (msRequestAnimationFrame method)
Sync refresh rate with the monitor - (Step 3 Connect the DirectX swap chain)
Takes advantage of the digital medium (Avoids mimicking physical motion) - (Metro style design principles)
Uses Independent Animation - (quickstart Animating your UI)
Uses Independent Animation - (Stand out with styling and animation in your XAML app BUILD2011 Channel 9)
Uses poster image on media - (HTML5 - Internet Explorer 9 Guide for Developers)
Uses thumbnail APIs to decode images at appropriate size - (Guidelines and checklist for thumbnails)
Uses thumbnail APIs to decode images at appropriate size - (Windows 8 Retrieve thumbnails for files and folders sample)
Uses toast only for time sensitive, relevant information - (Guidelines and checklist for toast notifications)
UX - Leverages typography, whitespace, and follows a font hierarchy - (Designing UX for apps)
UX - Leverages typography, whitespace, and follows a font hierarchy - (Guidelines and checklist for text and typography)
UX - Leverages typography, whitespace, and follows a font hierarchy - (Guidelines for selecting text and images)
UX - Leverages typography, whitespace, and follows a font hierarchy - (Guidelines for user interaction)
UX - Leverages typography, whitespace, and follows a font hierarchy - (Understanding the Windows 8 silhouette)