Microsoft Provides Free Desktop Bridge Video Training Course for Developers

Microsoft Provides Free Desktop Bridge Video Training Course for Developers

Developers interested in learning how they can bring their classic desktop applications forward to the Windows Store now have a great new resource: A new video training course from Microsoft Virtual Academy.

“This video course, delivered by the Desktop Bridge Program Management team, aims to help developers understand the concepts and benefits of the Desktop Bridge tooling in the Windows 10 Universal Windows Platform,” the Windows Apps team writes in a post to the Building Apps blog. “Watch the videos and find the relevant sample code here to start bringing your desktop apps to the Windows Store and to take advantage of new Windows 10 features of the Universal Windows Platform in your WPF, WinForms, MFC or other type of Win32 apps.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Desktop Bridge has emerged as one of the more successful attempts to get developers to embrace UWP. And that success is likely tied to the fact that developers don’t have to start over with a new UWP app. Instead, they can basically put their existing desktop application in a container that can be distributed from the Store. And then they can optionally begin adding UWP features to the app, including notifications, live tiles, app-to-app sharing, and more.

The Developer’s Guide to the Desktop Bridge video training series includes the following eight modules:

  • Intro to the Desktop Bridge
  • Desktop App Converter
  • Debugging and Testing Your Converted Apps
  • Distributing Your Converted Apps
  • Enhancing Desktop Applications with UWP Features
  • Extending and Modernizing with UWP components
  • What’s Next for the Desktop Bridge
  • Post-Course Survey

In addition to the on-demand versions of the video, the site also offers the videos and associated PowerPoint presentations for download. Definitely worth checking out.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 23 comments

  • Tony Barrett

    18 April, 2017 - 9:45 am

    <p>You actually wonder how much more MS could do to get devs to use UWP other than hold a gun to their head. Maybe even that isn't enough now.</p>

    • Mark from CO

      18 April, 2017 - 9:52 am

      <blockquote><a href="#98596"><em>In reply to Tony Barrett:</em></a>&nbsp;Incent with $$$$.</blockquote><blockquote>Mark from CO</blockquote><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • skane2600

      18 April, 2017 - 12:46 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#98596">In reply to Tony Barrett:</a></em></blockquote><p>MS never needed a "Universal Windows Platform", they needed a solid mobile platform free from any connection to Windows and introduced in the early days of the iPhone. UWP is mostly redundant on desktop/laptop and XBox.</p>

    • illuminated

      18 April, 2017 - 2:24 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#98596"><em>In reply to Tony Barrett:</em></a></blockquote><p>Have you seen UWP APIs? Did you use them? Are you even a developer? I bet you do not even know what UWP is. </p><p><br></p>

      • skane2600

        18 April, 2017 - 5:19 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#98707">In reply to illuminated:</a></em></blockquote><p>Jumping to conclusions much? Besides, anyone who regularly reads this site knows about the problems MS has had with getting developers to support UWP. You don't need to be a developer to know that.</p>

        • illuminated

          18 April, 2017 - 5:32 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#98749"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>Holding gun to ones head would mean that it is extremely unpleasant to use so there must be some threat involved. No? If you are not a developer and have never seen nor used UWP APIs then how do you know?</p><p>Or is definition of developers different? </p><p><br></p>

          • skane2600

            18 April, 2017 - 5:41 pm

            <blockquote><em><a href="#98753">In reply to illuminated:</a></em></blockquote><p>Obviously ghostrider was using hyperbole. Developers aren't avoiding developing UWP because they believe it is unpleasant, but because they don't see the profit in it. </p>

  • siko

    18 April, 2017 - 10:21 am

    <p>I think a lot of established win32 app vendors could really enhance the experience on windows by adding their app installer to the store and support auto update and notifications. As a first step.</p><p>Further down the line, when UWP matures and evolves, a new modern version of the apps would emerge, if not already replaced by competitors that got it a bit before 'the establishment'… WOW: Wake up!</p>

    • skane2600

      18 April, 2017 - 12:40 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#98607">In reply to siko:</a></em></blockquote><p>Notifications are primarily useful in communication oriented applications. Most Win32 programs don't have a need for them. I wouldn't want a productivity app to auto update. I want to be in control. </p>

    • illuminated

      18 April, 2017 - 2:15 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#98607"><em>In reply to siko:</em></a></blockquote><p>Auto-update is big. Just looking at the number of updaters win32 installers want to install makes me sad. Right at this moment I have at least 7 updaters running on my system. Then there is windows update service. One update service should be enough.</p>

      • skane2600

        18 April, 2017 - 5:15 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#98706">In reply to illuminated:</a></em></blockquote><p>You own all 7 applications with updaters? But seriously, the vast majority of Win32 programs don't have them.</p>

        • illuminated

          18 April, 2017 - 7:08 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#98746"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>When applications have no updaters then it is even worse as most of them check for updates on startup or send you to some website to do everything manually.</p><p><br></p><p>Now for updaters you do not have to look far. Plenty of free (or forced) software has them. Right now on one of my systems I see updater for Java, MalwareBytes, TrendMicro, Adobe, Chrome, some OEM driver updater and nvidia. Why do I have to run all these processes when one could do everything?</p>

          • skane2600

            18 April, 2017 - 7:19 pm

            <blockquote><em><a href="#98765">In reply to illuminated:</a></em></blockquote><p>I guess we'll have to disagree. Most of the applications I use don't check for updates. For those that have update capability at all it's usually a menu item you can invoke if you want to check or alternately just ignore. </p>

  • Ron Diaz

    18 April, 2017 - 11:29 am

    <p>Microsoft's bridge to nowhere </p>

  • skane2600

    18 April, 2017 - 12:32 pm

    <p>"Desktop Bridge has emerged as one of the more successful attempts to get developers to embrace UWP."</p><p><br></p><p>Is this statement based on any measurement? </p>

  • skane2600

    18 April, 2017 - 1:06 pm

    <p>The video introduction starts with a slide title "User experience challenge today" and lists items like "Finding the right, trusted installer". The problem is that there's a difference between MS's perception of user challenges and actual users perceptions. Are average users really thinking "I'm going to start using only UWP apps because I'm afraid that Win32 software installers include adware"? Does the average user know or care about a few files not being removed during uninstall? (and if you are a good Win32 vendor, aren't you already performing a clean uninstall?). If MS really wants these issues to drive developers to convert their Win32 apps to UWP they have to advertize these advantages to users – they have to create the customer demand that justifies developer efforts. </p>

    • illuminated

      18 April, 2017 - 2:11 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#98680"><em>In reply to skane2600:</em></a></blockquote><p>MS is right on this one. As an "expert" windows user most of the time I have no idea if setup package for some small vendor app is the real deal or just a repackaged ad/spy/crap/ware. Windows app store would at least scan install packages for malware. </p><p><br></p><p>Win32 to UWP conversion is completely different. </p>

      • hrlngrv

        Premium Member
        18 April, 2017 - 5:06 pm

        <p><a href="#98705"><em>In reply to illuminated:</em></a></p><p>Better vendors/sources provide MD5 checksums for their packages. Note: not shareware/freeware sites like Tucows or Snapfiles, though Sourceforge would be more reliable than not.</p><p>I doubt I'm going to see Notepad++ or GNU R become Centennialized before I retire.</p>

      • skane2600

        18 April, 2017 - 5:13 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#98705">In reply to illuminated:</a></em></blockquote><p>My point was not that you can't get into trouble downloading random programs from the Internet, but that the average user doesn't know that UWP apps would be any safer. </p>

  • chaad_losan

    19 April, 2017 - 3:42 pm

    <p>This is the only way any one will put an app on the windows store.</p>

    • illuminated

      19 April, 2017 - 4:39 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#98974"><em>In reply to chaad_losan:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yes, right. There are 0 apps now. Did you even check?</p><p>I am getting tired of funny guys.</p>

  • mortarm

    12 June, 2017 - 3:03 pm

    <p>The sample code link takes you to the blog post, not the sample code.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC