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Its a combination of signing and app packaging. The technologies to look into are APPX, app container, and the Centennial Bridge. Basically, any application ca

Its a combination of signing and app packaging. The technologies to look into are APPX, app container, and the Centennial Bridge. Basically, any application can be included in the store. They are using application virtualization from a prior product called APP-V to protect the system from applications tampering with important pieces. It's long over due. It also provides a unified way to update applications through the store. The store is how they distribute the Ubuntu userland that they ship with WSL...it's very capable. Up until now they only let people publish a very narrow selection of applications to the store. That strategy failed and now they are going to start pushing Win32 developers to take advantage of the new servicing and packaging system. It really is very good. I really, really, hope that this doesn't get shot down by herp-a-derp style Microsoft hate.

rootlocus 9y ago
If, for instance, I build my game with Unity, and would like to distribute this alpha build to friends to test it before it ships, how would I do that?
- youdontknowtho 9y ago
  They have ways to do that. You would have to check with the store. Also, this doesn't mean that if your friends are using Windows 10 home or pro that they won't be able to install Appx packages. They can. Seriously, it's just a zip file with a manifest. On home/pro and up, users can install Appx packages by double clicking them. Only Windows 10 S has the restriction that all software installs have to use the store. The thing to watch will be the way that Windows 10 S actually maintains performance and security in ways that the other versions of Win10 can't. As long as users can install services or device drivers as part of an install it's always going to have the same problems. For something to change it actually has to change. We all know that Windows installers do dumb sh1t. Appx packages run with the same performance and have the same power as normal win32 apps. The only thing they can't do is modify the system in dangerous ways. Also, there is an Appx for Servers that is being used for Nano server. It does allow service installation and more serious modification of the system...because it has to. It's still a great packaging technology even if you don't use the store or other elements of their plan.

rootlocus 9y ago

If, for instance, I build my game with Unity, and would like to distribute this alpha build to friends to test it before it ships, how would I do that?

youdontknowtho 9y ago
They have ways to do that. You would have to check with the store. Also, this doesn't mean that if your friends are using Windows 10 home or pro that they won't be able to install Appx packages. They can. Seriously, it's just a zip file with a manifest. On home/pro and up, users can install Appx packages by double clicking them. Only Windows 10 S has the restriction that all software installs have to use the store. The thing to watch will be the way that Windows 10 S actually maintains performance and security in ways that the other versions of Win10 can't. As long as users can install services or device drivers as part of an install it's always going to have the same problems. For something to change it actually has to change. We all know that Windows installers do dumb sh1t. Appx packages run with the same performance and have the same power as normal win32 apps. The only thing they can't do is modify the system in dangerous ways. Also, there is an Appx for Servers that is being used for Nano server. It does allow service installation and more serious modification of the system...because it has to. It's still a great packaging technology even if you don't use the store or other elements of their plan.