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.”
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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:
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.
skane2600
<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>
skane2600
<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>
skane2600
<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>
skane2600
<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>
skane2600
<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>
skane2600
<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>
skane2600
<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
<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>
skane2600
<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>