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I think porting my app to WP would be quite fun. I like C#/.NET, I like VS. What I don't like is Windows 8. I'm not willing to install Windows 8 just so that I

by leoedin 13y ago

I think porting my app to WP would be quite fun. I like C#/.NET, I like VS. What I don't like is Windows 8. I'm not willing to install Windows 8 just so that I can develop an app for a small number of users. Surely MS would help themselves by letting Windows 7 users develop for WP? Their ecosystem is small but their development platform is, in my eyes, the nicest of the bunch. The bulk of the various mobile app stores are filled with apps developed as a hobby, and requiring Windows 8 is a huge hurdle for a hobbyist.

theg2 13y ago
The underlying API's don't allow for it (at least that's what Microsoft is saying). Although I don't fully understand what you could have against Windows 8 so much that it would stop you from developing an app. If it's Metro, you won't ever have to enter it.
miguelrochefort 13y ago
What don't you like about Windows 8? As someone who developped for iOS, Android and Windows Phone/8, I prefer (by far) the MS ecosystem and tools. It's just nicer to use, and I can build an app in a fraction of the time (for the same quality) as it takes with other platforms. With Xamarin, things will get even better (I'll get to use VS for 80% of my work).
Zigurd 13y ago
You are right about the development platform... BUT: 1. The difference between usability of Eclipse, XCode, and VS has narrowed. Eclipse, especially, has slowly but steadily improved, and if that isn't sufficient, Google also has IDEA-based Android Studio in pre-release. 2. Windows is everywhere, but not the same anywhere. Different for two different CPUs in tablets, different on the desktop, different on handsets. While Android is not a direct replacement for Windows, it is the same everywhere, especially in terms of app compatibility at every API level, and in forward compatibility. Android has the best technology for scaling a single executable across many screen sizes and "distances." So expect Android in phones, tablets, cars, appliances, etc. running the same apps.

by leoedin 13y ago

theg2 13y ago

The underlying API's don't allow for it (at least that's what Microsoft is saying). Although I don't fully understand what you could have against Windows 8 so much that it would stop you from developing an app. If it's Metro, you won't ever have to enter it.

miguelrochefort 13y ago

What don't you like about Windows 8? As someone who developped for iOS, Android and Windows Phone/8, I prefer (by far) the MS ecosystem and tools. It's just nicer to use, and I can build an app in a fraction of the time (for the same quality) as it takes with other platforms. With Xamarin, things will get even better (I'll get to use VS for 80% of my work).

Zigurd 13y ago

You are right about the development platform... BUT: 1. The difference between usability of Eclipse, XCode, and VS has narrowed. Eclipse, especially, has slowly but steadily improved, and if that isn't sufficient, Google also has IDEA-based Android Studio in pre-release. 2. Windows is everywhere, but not the same anywhere. Different for two different CPUs in tablets, different on the desktop, different on handsets. While Android is not a direct replacement for Windows, it is the same everywhere, especially in terms of app compatibility at every API level, and in forward compatibility. Android has the best technology for scaling a single executable across many screen sizes and "distances." So expect Android in phones, tablets, cars, appliances, etc. running the same apps.