Create apps for

a new generation.
Yours.

Windows 8.1 launches a world of

opportunity for student developers.
It is Windows made faster, more
fluid and responsive to touch. And
it puts apps and active live tiles at
everyones fingertips
You can be a first mover in this
amazing app revolution, and build
Windows Store apps that could
launch your career.
This guide will point you to the
right developer tools, tutorials,
and resources. Jump in. The next
generation is what you make it!

31.steps
Get your
to build
development
your Windows
tools.Store app.
NEW TO
WINDOWS 8.1?
WINDOWS

The desktop in Windows 8.1 is very

familiar for Windows 7 users, but you may
not have seen the Start Page, Charms, or
other unique features in the new Windows.
See our quick overview of Windows 8.1
here
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg00

ITS EASY TO DO
1. GET YOUR DEVELOPER TOOLS

2. BUILD AND TEST YOUR APP

3. PUBLISH YOUR APP

Download the software and tools

you need at DreamSpark.com. Its
free for students.

Well point you to instructive

videos, hands-on labs, sample code
and more.

Your app will be available to millions

of people at the Windows Store.

1. Get your development tools.

WHAT IS A
WINDOWS
STORE APP?
WINDOWS

Theyre fast, fluid and perfect for touch.

Windows Store apps are at the center of
everything you do. Uniquely, they appear
as a tile on the Windows Start screen.
Tap to open a Windows app and the
content fills the entire computer screen.
Content and function are the focus, while
UI controls, decorations and distractions
are minimized.

START BY GETTING WINDOWS 8.1

GET THE TOOLS

Windows Store apps built for

Windows 8.1 require the APIs
available on Windows 8.1. Before
you can start developing and testing
Windows Store apps you must be
running Windows 8.1.

At DreamSpark, we packaged
together all the software and tools
you will need to create Windows
8.1 apps at no charge to students.
One click lets you download Visual
Studio Professional 2013 including:

Discover ways to get Windows 8.1.

Choices include:

Windows 8.1 Software

Development Kit

Free with your schools

DreamSpark subscription

Blend for Visual Studio to create

and edit user interfaces,
animations, and more

Free 90-day trial

Special student offers and
upgrades
Learn more at DreamSpark:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg01

The Windows App Certification

Kit (WACK) to test basic
compliance of your apps

Use this collection of tools to create,

code, debug, package, and publish
your Windows Store apps.
Get your tools at DreamSpark:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg01
DONT FORGET YOUR LICENSE
When you install Visual Studio 2013,
you will be asked to get a developer
license. To complete this step, you will
need a Microsoft Account (http://aka.
ms/w8gsg02).

Discover what is unique to Windows that

can set your app apart
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg04
Look at examples of beautifully designed
Windows Store apps
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg05
Learn about the Windows design style
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg06
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg07

For more information on the

developer license, see this page:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg03
Note: In order to install the developer license, the
user must be a Local Administrator on the computer.

2. Build and test your app.

TESTING IS
A SNAP

Before submitting your app, you must

test it. You will find the Windows App
Certification Kit (WACK) in the Windows
SDK you downloaded at the very start.
Heres how to test using the WACK:
- Compile your app and run it locally
- Get to your all apps list (swipe up or
click the down arrow on your Start
Screen)

GET INSPIRED: Watch a short videoGET

on the
design principles
Windows
INSPIRED
Watch a for
short
video on apps.
the design principles for Windows 8 apps.
CHOOSE A
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
The Windows Store development
model offers choice. To build a
Windows Store app, you can use a
language you already know, or want
to learn:
HTML/JavaScript
XAML/C#
XAML/Visual Basic
XAML/C++
DirectX/C++
DirectX/XAML/C++

GET HANDS-ON HELP

We have labs to help you create your
first Windows Store app. Try the Lab
Exercises from Chapter 1 and get a
taste of success right from the start.
The labs are available in HTML/
JavaScript or XAML/#C (.exe
download). Download one or both.

FIND HUNDREDS OF
CODE SAMPLES
Check out this helpful overview
(http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg10) from
the Windows Dev Center. It covers
everything from:

- Search on cert and select the result

for the Windows App Certification Kit
(WACK)
- Run it and choose Validate a
Windows Store app
- Select your custom app and select
next. Follow the instructions in the
app UI.

Setting up

Learning tools and templates

Download the HTML/JavaScript lab Downloading hundreds of
(Approximately 235MB):
code samples:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg08
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg11
Download the XAML/C# lab
(Approximately 250MB):
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg09

Note: To run the WACK on your app, you

must have the app installed (Visual Studio
does this each time you run the app), and
the app must be compiled to release mode.
If you compile to debug mode and run the
WACK, youll receive one or more failures.

3. Publish your app to the store.

NAMING YOUR
APP

GET YOUR REGISTRATION CODE

Heres how:
Go to http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg12
Follow the prompts to enroll. You
can verify as a student using your
school-issued email, DreamSpark
registration code, or International
student ID card.
Once enrolled, get the Windows
Store registration code. Its free
for verified students.
Enroll in the Windows Store
Instead of payment, simply enter
the Registration Code you got
from DreamSpark.
Note: a credit card is required for
registration, but will not be charged
if you have a registration code.
SUBMIT YOUR APP
To create and submit your app

package to the store, go to

the Project menu in Visual
Studio Professional 2013, select
Store and then select Create
App Packages and follow the
directions. You will be required to
register your Microsoft Account
(the one you use to get a
developer license) to submit apps
to the Windows Store.

An age rating - The age rating

for an app is important. Be sure to
see the requirements here:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg13

Note: If you are running Visual

Studio 2013 Express for Windows
choose Store from the menu bar.

Your app must pass the certification

requirements to make its way into
the Windows Store. But once its in,
millions worldwide will see your app.

When you submit your app to the

store, be ready with:
A name for your app Learn
more in the sidebar to the right
A price for your app (or free)
Whether or not you want to
enable trial mode
(recommended for all paid apps)

A selling description, compelling

screen images, and an honest
feature list for shoppers to read in
the Windows Store.
YOUR APP IS CERTIFIED

As you proceed through the app

certification process, which can take
several days, you will receive emails
to keep you aware of your apps
progress. You might be asked to
revisit some aspect of your code to
improve its quality and performance.
Thats part of the learning process.

Picking a name for your app is much like

picking a domain name for your web site.
Youll want to reserve it in the Windows
Store as soon as you know youre going to
publish an app. You can reserve a name
up to a year in advance, but you are not
allowed to hold a large number of reserved
names without publishing the apps with
those names.
Be sure to have a backup name in case
the name youve chosen is already in use.
Make sure to avoid using trademarked
names or words such as Twitter, tweet,
Facebook, or Disney. The trademark
owners are allowed to pull your app
from the Windows Store for trademark
infringement.

Build apps that build your career.

TEMPLATES AND
TRAINING

You can download hundreds of Windows

code samples, watch instructive videos, and
much more.
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg11
App samples include:

FIRST IN, FIRST WIN

Windows represents a huge
worldwide opportunity. Think about
it. Millions of people use Windows
on the desktop, tablets, laptops, and
phones. With the Windows Store
built into every Windows 8.1 device,
your apps will be available to every
user. You can tap into an audience
eagerly looking to download the
apps you have published to the
Windows Store.
IMAGINE, BUILD, REVOLUTIONIZE
Students are always the ones to
transform music, fashion, and pop
culture. Now, you can reimagine
apps and all they can do. Youre not
behind. Youre creating whats next.

Visit Microsoft Imagine Cup

(http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg14) to
enter your apps in the worlds
premier student technology
competition.
GAIN PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
RIGHT NOW
Windows Store app development
is still new, so you can learn the
same skills at the same time as
professional developers who create
apps for a living. The development
skills you gain will give you a
competitive edge. The best jobs are
given to technology students with
the best skills. You can be certain
Windows Store app development
will be in great demand.

LET US MAKE IT EASIER

We can guide you to Windows
Store app templates and samples to
help you code your first app faster
and easier. Youll find hundreds
of Windows SDK samples, and
instructions on how to incorporate
them here:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg11

User Interface

http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg15

Audio & Video

- Playback:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg16
- Camera Capture:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg17

Devices & Sensors

- Accelerometer:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg18
- Bluetooth GATT:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg19
- 3-D Printing:
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg20

Discover some of the best apps

created for the modern canvas to
get a jump on making an app that
darts, dances and delights.

Networking:

Check out the sidebar to the right

for links to app samples.

File Access:

- HTTP Client Networking:

http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg21
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg22

Helpful resources.
LEAD THE WAY

Dont wait for a class on app building.

Windows comes with incredible support
to help you build your first app fast. Get
started now.

STARTING
Step 1
Get Windows and free developer toolshttp://aka.ms/win8-1gsg01

See how to test your Windows Store app http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg25

Design principles of Windows Store apps http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg26

Whats a Windows Store app?

http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg23

Game building for Windows Store apps http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg27

Where to get your developer license http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg03

PUBLISHING

BUILDING AND TESTING

Step 3
Get Registration code for Windows Store.
The code is free for students.
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg12

Step 2
Get a helpful overview about Windows
Store app development http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg24
Download hands-on labs for building your
first Windows Store app (.exe download) HTML/JavaScript lab (Approximately
235MB): http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg08
XAML/C# lab (Approximately 250MB):
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg09

Free eBooks on Microsoft Windows

development http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg30
Microsoft SDK Sample Download http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg31

UNIVERSITY LEVEL COURSES

ON WINDOWS 8
Designing for Modern UI http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg32
App Development for Modern UI http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg33

LEARNING

App Development for Modern Devices http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg34

Microsoft blogs direct from the engineers

responsible for Windows

FACULTY RESOURCES

Windows App Builder Blog http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg28

User experience support and guidance http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg29

Windows 8 App Development Resource

Kit for Faculty http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg35

WINDOWS AZURE THE PERFECT COMPANION TO YOUR

WINDOWS STORE OR WINDOWS
PHONE APP
Windows Azure is Microsofts open and
flexible cloud platform that lets you
deploy and manage your app across a
network of reliable global datacenters.
Whats more, Azure lets you build an
application using an operating system,
developer language or tool.
Windows Azure introduced Mobile
Services, a set of turnkey backend
solutions to power your mobile
app. Accelerate your mobile app
development, incorporate structured
storage, user authentication and push
notifications in minutes.
Learn more about Windows Azure
Mobile Services.
http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg37

Learn how to get a DreamSpark

subscription for your institution http://aka.ms/win8-1gsg36