UWP (Universal Windows Platform) is a platform developed by Microsoft used to create apps that can run on various Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. UWP provides the latest user experience and powerful features, allowing developers to deploy to multiple platforms with a single codebase. This article will detail the necessity of UWP development and the various tools used for Windows application development.
1. Definition and Importance of UWP
UWP was introduced with Windows 10 and supports the same app to run simultaneously on a variety of devices such as PCs, tablets, Xbox, Hololens, and IoT devices. This allows developers to easily maintain their apps while deploying them across multiple platforms.
1.1 UWP Architecture
UWP is based on Microsoft’s Windows Runtime environment, allowing apps to access Windows features (e.g., file system, network, UI, etc.) through APIs. UWP apps are distributed via the Windows Store, providing users with an easy way to install and update apps.
2. UWP Development Tools
Several development tools are needed to develop UWP apps. Here, we will explain the most commonly used tools and how to use them.
2.1 Visual Studio
Visual Studio is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) provided by Microsoft, and it is the most common tool for developing UWP apps. Visual Studio includes features such as a code editor, debugging, performance analysis, and testing, making it optimized for UWP app development.
Installation Method
To install Visual Studio, follow these steps.
- Go to the Visual Studio download center and download the installer.
- Run the installer and select “Universal Windows Platform development” under the “Workloads” tab.
- You can also select .NET Desktop Development and Windows 10 SDK as additional components.
- After completing the installation, run Visual Studio.
Creating a UWP Project
To create a UWP project in Visual Studio, follow these steps.
- Run Visual Studio and click “Create a new project”.
- Search for and select “Blank App (Universal Windows)”, then click “Next”.
- Specify the project name and location, then click “Create”.
2.2 Blend for Visual Studio
Blend for Visual Studio is a specialized tool for designing the UI of UWP apps. It provides a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor that helps designers intuitively position and style UI elements.
Key Features
- Powerful animation design
- XAML code and property-based design
- Reusable styles and template definitions
2.3 Windows SDK
The Windows SDK (Software Development Kit) is a package that provides the APIs and tools necessary for Windows app development. It includes various APIs and templates required for UWP app development. The Windows SDK is integrated with Visual Studio and is installed alongside it, so there is no need for separate installation.
3. Setting Up the UWP Development Environment
Before starting UWP app development, you need to ensure that your development environment is properly set up. A PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11 installed is required, and you should select the minimum target version for running the UWP app.
3.1 PC Environment Setup
To have an appropriate PC environment for UWP development, ensure the following:
- Windows 10 (version 1809) or higher, or Windows 11 installed
- At least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
- At least 20GB of free disk space
3.2 Emulator Setup
You can set up the Windows 10 emulator to test UWP apps. This allows you to run the app on various Windows devices without needing actual hardware. You can run the emulator using the “Debug” menu in Visual Studio.
4. Basic Structure of a UWP App
UWP applications are developed using XAML and C# or VB.NET. XAML is used to define UI elements and layouts, while C# implements the app logic. These two languages are closely related, enabling developers to provide rich user experiences.
4.1 Basic Structure of XAML
XAML files are used to define the UI of UWP apps, and the basic structure is as follows.
<Page
x:Class="MyApp.MainPage"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="using:MyApp"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
mc:Ignorable="d">
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="Hello, UWP!"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
FontSize="24"/>
</Grid>
</Page>
5. UWP API Example
Let’s introduce how to create a real app using the UWP API. The following example shows how to make a simple “Hello World” app. This app displays a message when a button is clicked.
5.1 XAML Code
<Page
x:Class="MyApp.MainPage"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<Grid>
<Button x:Name="MyButton"
Content="Click me!"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
Click="MyButton_Click"/>
<TextBlock x:Name="MyTextBlock"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Bottom"
Margin="0,20,0,0"
FontSize="20"/>
</Grid>
</Page>
5.2 C# Code
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
namespace MyApp
{
public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
{
public MainPage()
{
this.InitializeComponent();
}
private void MyButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
MyTextBlock.Text = "Hello, UWP!";
}
}
}
6. UWP App Distribution
After developing a UWP app, you can distribute it to users through the Windows Store. The distribution process is as follows.
6.1 App Packaging
You can package the app by clicking the “Project” menu in Visual Studio, then selecting “Store” → “Create App Packages”. During this process, you will need to enter the app’s version, description, and other metadata.
6.2 Submission to Windows Store
Once packaging is complete, you can log in to the Microsoft Partner Center to submit the app. After submission, it will be reviewed by Microsoft and distributed upon approval.
7. Resources Related to UWP Development
To gain more information about UWP development, we recommend the following resources.
8. Conclusion
UWP is an ideal platform for developing powerful apps that can run on various Windows devices. With great tools like Visual Studio, developers can create apps quickly and easily, and communicate with users through the Windows Store. We hope you leverage the various possibilities of UWP to create innovative apps.