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> I still don't understand why. AFAIK, they wanted developers to use native code and Windows API. This is especially needed for games and other resource-demand
by Const-me 9y ago
> I still don't understand why.
AFAIK, they wanted developers to use native code and Windows API. This is especially needed for games and other resource-demanding apps.
Windows CE is just too old. The security there is comparable to Windows 9.x, i.e. almost no security. It was very hard to design a CE-based OS that would allow arbitrary native code to run, while denying the ability to access user’s private data and break the device.
WP7 only allowed C++ code for close MS partners. Regular developers had to use .NET, which has its own very advanced security model built-in.
Probably, MS thought that once they allow C++ development, third-party developers start to port their older Windows games to WP 8 + Direct3D 11 feature level 9.3.
Eventually the plan didn’t work. MS bought Minecraft, convinced Rockstar to port GTA San Andreas, but the platform still hadn’t gain enough traction, and most third party developers passed.