Getting started for iOS developers
[This article is for Windows 8.x and Windows Phone 8.x developers writing Windows Runtime apps. If you’re developing for Windows 10, see the latest documentation]
If you're an iOS developer considering developing apps for Windows 8.1 or Windows Phone 8.1, these docs are a great place to start. They'll introduces you to some of the concepts you'll need to know as you get started developing apps, and discuss how you can publish your work on the Windows Store.
In this section we'll see how to use Microsoft Visual Studio and the C# programming language to create a Windows Store app, and we'll discuss how the process might vary from the tools you currently use. (Other programming languages and tools are available, and we'll look at those in Getting Started: Choosing a programming language).
Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 introduce a new platform for creating engaging apps on desktop, laptop, tablet and phone devices. As Windows Store apps provide many unique capabilities, a straight port of your iOS app will miss out on these features. We therefore encourage you to try out the new controls to see how they will make your life as a developer easier, and new apps possible.
Before you get too far into this article, you might want to take a look at the Design case study: iPad to Windows Store app to see what is possible. This case study may spark your app-building imagination, with features like layout and navigation, commands and actions, contracts, touch, orientation and views, and notifications.
Don't just port your app: Reimagine your app, and take advantage of features like the app bar, Semantic Zoom, search and sharing, the file picker, charms, live tiles, Cortana, and notifications.
To get started with these walkthroughs, you'll need a computer with both Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 installed. You can download these from the Developer downloads for programming Windows Store apps. Don't have a PC? Don't worry - you can use your Mac: see Installing Windows and the dev tools on your Mac.
In this section
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
How does creating a project in Visual Studio compare with Xcode? |
|
Choosing the best programming language for your app |
|
A gentle introduction to working in Visual Studio |
|
A guide to the controls you'll use in your Windows 8 app |
|
Creating multi-page apps. |
|
Adding movement to your user interface |
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Advice on what to do next in your programming adventure |