Category: UWP Programming

UWP (Universal Windows Platform) app development is a powerful way to create applications that can run on various Windows 10 devices. In this article, we will start from the basics of UWP development and explain in detail how to install the apps you have developed on actual devices.

What is UWP?

UWP is a platform developed by Microsoft that is designed to create apps that run on various Windows 10 devices (PCs, tablets, Xbox, IoT devices, etc.) from a single code base. The main advantage of UWP is that it allows for a unified user experience across different devices. This particularly provides app developers with the opportunity to reach a wider audience.

Features of UWP

• Responsive Design: Supports various screen sizes to provide the best user experience on all devices.
• Modular Size: Apps are composed of small modules, allowing for the installation of only the necessary functions.
• Security and Sandbox: UWP apps run in a sandboxed environment, limiting access to system resources.
• Storage Access: Securely access the file system using the Windows Storage API.

Preparing for UWP App Development

To develop a UWP app, some preliminary preparations are needed. Follow the steps below for guidance.

Installing Required Tools

1. Install Visual Studio: Visual Studio is required for UWP app development. The Visual Studio Community version is available for free and includes all necessary tools.
2. Windows 10 SDK: The Windows 10 SDK is needed for UWP development. It is included automatically when installing Visual Studio.

Creating a Project

1. Run Visual Studio and click on ‘Create a New Project.’
2. In the template list, navigate to ‘Windows’ > ‘UWP’ category.
3. Select the ‘Blank App (App Name)’ template and click ‘Next.’
4. Choose the project name and save location, then click the ‘Create’ button.

Creating a Simple UWP App

Now let’s create a simple UWP app. This app will have the feature of changing the text when a button is clicked.

Writing XAML Code

Once the project is created, open the MainPage.xaml file. Write the XAML code as follows:

<Page
    x:Class="MyUwpApp.MainPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:MyUwpApp"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d">

    <Grid Background="{ThemeResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">
        <Button x:Name="myButton" Content="Click Here" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Click="myButton_Click"/>
        <TextBlock x:Name="myTextBlock" Text="Text will appear here." HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Bottom" Margin="0,0,0,50"/>
    </Grid>
</Page>

Writing Code Behind

Now modify the MainPage.xaml.cs file to handle the button click event. Add the following code:

using Windows.UI.Xaml;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;

namespace MyUwpApp
{
    public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            this.InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void myButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            myTextBlock.Text = "Button has been clicked!";
        }
    }
}

Running the App

After writing the code, click on ‘Debug’ > ‘Start Debugging’ in the top menu of Visual Studio to run the app.

Installing UWP Apps

Now we are ready to install and deploy the simple app. There are several methods to install UWP apps, and we will look at a few key methods in this section.

Installing the App on Local Machine

To install the app you are developing on your local machine, follow these steps:

1. Click on ‘Debug’ > ‘Start Debugging’ in Visual Studio. This method allows you to run the app directly.
2. To install the packaged app, select ‘Build’ > ‘Build Solution’ to build the app.
3. Find and enter the ‘Package’ folder in the Solution Explorer.
4. Once the package for the UWP app is created, find the package and double click to install it.

Distributing to Microsoft Store

To distribute the app, you can publish it through the Microsoft Store. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for the Microsoft Dev Center. You can choose a personal developer account or a business account.
2. Prepare to package the app and select ‘App Distribution’ in the ‘Package’ menu.
3. Enter the required information and upload the app package.
4. After store review and approval, users will be able to install the app.

Conclusion on Installing UWP Apps

We have reviewed the basics of UWP app development and installation. The UWP platform enables powerful and flexible app development and can provide a seamless user experience on Windows 10 devices. Develop more UWP apps based on your creative ideas!

UWP (Universal Windows Platform) is an application framework designed to run on various Windows devices. UWP applications offer powerful capabilities that allow them to work seamlessly across a range of devices, including PCs, tablets, mobile phones, Xbox, and HoloLens. In this article, we will explore how to apply system resources in UWP development. System resources encompass various elements of hardware and software, and efficiently utilizing them is crucial to the performance of UWP applications.

Understanding System Resources

System resources include various elements such as CPU, memory, storage, network, and peripherals. UWP applications efficiently manage and optimize these resources to provide a better user experience. Below are brief descriptions of each resource.

• CPU (Central Processing Unit): Performs all calculations and processing tasks of the application. Fast and efficient CPU usage greatly impacts the performance of the program.
• Memory: The space used for temporarily storing data and programs. Insufficient memory can cause applications to slow down or crash.
• Storage: Responsible for storing user data and application data. It’s important to properly utilize the file system access methods.
• Network: The resource that connects to the internet for data transmission and reception. Optimizing network requests using asynchronous programming is crucial.
• Peripherals: Hardware devices such as printers and cameras. UWP provides APIs that make it easy to leverage these devices.

Utilizing System Resources in UWP

In UWP, various APIs allow easy utilization of system resources. Let’s look at specific examples for each resource.

1. Optimizing CPU Usage

To optimize CPU usage, you can leverage asynchronous processing and multithreading. The example below shows how to distribute CPU load using an asynchronous method.

async void PerformComplexCalculation()
{
    await Task.Run(() =>
    {
        // Complex calculation
        for (int i = 0; i < 1000000; i++)
        {
            // Calculation tasks
        }
    });
}
    

2. Memory Management

Memory management is essential for maintaining the performance of UWP applications. It’s important to monitor memory usage and dispose of unnecessary objects to prevent memory leaks. The following is an example of effective memory usage.

public void LoadImages(List<string> imagePaths)
{
    foreach (var path in imagePaths)
    {
        var image = new BitmapImage();
        image.BeginInit();
        image.UriSource = new Uri(path);
        image.CacheOption = BitmapCacheOption.OnLoad; // Load immediately into memory
        image.EndInit();
    }
}
    

3. Data Storage and File System Access

UWP applications use the storage API to access the file system. The code below shows how to read and write files.

async Task WriteTextToFile(string filename, string content)
{
    StorageFolder storageFolder = ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder;
    StorageFile file = await storageFolder.CreateFileAsync(filename, CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);
    await FileIO.WriteTextAsync(file, content);
}

async Task ReadTextFromFile(string filename)
{
    StorageFolder storageFolder = ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder;
    StorageFile file = await storageFolder.GetFileAsync(filename);
    return await FileIO.ReadTextAsync(file);
}
    

4. Optimizing Network Requests

Using asynchronous methods, you can handle network requests and cancel them if necessary. Below is an example of how to fetch data from a REST API.

async Task<string> GetDataFromApi(string url)
{
    using (HttpClient client = new HttpClient())
    {
        HttpResponseMessage response = await client.GetAsync(url);
        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
        return await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
    }
}
    

5. Using Peripherals

UWP provides APIs that facilitate easy communication with various peripherals. The example below shows how to use the camera to capture an image.

private async void CaptureImage()
{
    var cameraCaptureUI = new CameraCaptureUI();
    var photo = await cameraCaptureUI.CapturePhotoAsync();
    var file = await KnownFolders.PicturesLibrary.CreateFileAsync("capturedImage.jpg", CreationCollisionOption.GenerateUniqueName);
    using (var stream = await photo.OpenStreamForReadAsync())
    {
        using (var fileStream = await file.OpenStreamForWriteAsync())
        {
            await stream.CopyToAsync(fileStream);
        }
    }
}
    

Conclusion

The performance of UWP applications is greatly influenced by how system resources are utilized. This article explored efficient management and utilization methods for CPU, memory, storage, network, and peripherals. Appropriately applying these methods can enhance the performance and user experience of UWP applications.

For more information and examples on UWP development, please refer to Microsoft’s official documentation.

UWP (Universal Windows Platform) is a platform that allows developers to create applications for Windows 10 and later versions, aiming to provide a consistent user experience across various devices. In the process of developing UWP applications, it is important to effectively utilize the resources provided by the system. This article will explore the various resources offered by the system in UWP development and demonstrate their utilization through example code.

1. Basic Structure of UWP Apps

UWP apps consist of several components that interact with each other to form the application. The main components are as follows:

• Package: UWP apps are distributed in package form, which includes application code, resources, configuration files, etc.
• Main Page: The main page that makes up the user interface (UI). The MainPage.xaml file is primarily used as the main page.
• Resources: Various resources used in the application, including images, strings, styles, and more.

2. Resources Provided in UWP Apps

The UWP platform provides various system resources to make it easy for application developers to utilize. These resources include:

• Image Resources: Use image resources of various sizes and resolutions to provide a UI optimized for devices.
• String Resources: Define and use string resources for multilingual support.
• Style Resources: Apply styles to UI elements to maintain consistent design.
• Theme Resources: Support light/dark themes to provide a UI suited to the user’s environment.

3. Utilizing Image Resources

Using image resources in UWP applications is very simple. By using the image resources provided by the system, a consistent user experience can be delivered across various device environments.

3.1 Adding Image Resources

To add images to the project, simply place the images in the ‘Assets’ folder. Then use the image resource in the XAML code.

<Image Source="Assets/logo.png" Height="100" Width="100"/>

3.2 Supporting Various Resolutions

UWP can provide images of different sizes to support various resolutions. To do this, create the following subfolders in the ‘Assets’ folder:

• Assets\Square44x44Logo.scale-100.png
• Assets\Square44x44Logo.scale-140.png
• Assets\Square44x44Logo.scale-180.png
• Assets\Square44x44Logo.scale-240.png

By providing multiple resolutions, the UWP app can automatically detect the device’s DPI and select the most suitable image.

4. Utilizing String Resources

For multilingual support, UWP allows the use of string resources to manage all text in the application. This makes it easy to translate the app into multiple languages.

4.1 Adding String Resources

By default, create resource files for each language in the ‘Strings’ folder. For example, add ‘Strings/en-US/Strings.resw’ and ‘Strings/ko-KR/Strings.resw’.

<TextBlock Text="{x:Bind Resources.Strings.HelloWorld, Mode=OneWay}" />

4.2 Using Resource Files

When using string resources in XAML, bind the corresponding string using {x:Bind}. This allows the text displayed to the user to change automatically based on language settings.

5. Utilizing Style Resources

In UWP, style resources can be used to apply a consistent style to UI elements. This allows for easy management of the overall UI design of the application.

5.1 Defining Style Resources

Styles can be defined in the XAML resource dictionary. For example, you can define a button style as follows:

<Page.Resources>
    <Style x:Key="MyButtonStyle" TargetType="Button">
        < Setter Property="Background" Value="Blue" />
        <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="White" />
    </Style>
</Page.Resources>

5.2 Applying Styles

To apply a defined style to a UI element, add the style key to the Style property of the element.

<Button Style="{StaticResource MyButtonStyle}" Content="Click here"/>

6. Utilizing Theme Resources

UWP apps support light and dark themes, allowing the UI to adjust based on the user’s environment. This provides a better experience for the user.

6.1 Using Theme Resources

Theme resources can be used directly in XAML code. For example, background colors or font colors can automatically change using the system-provided theme resources.

<TextBlock Text="Hello" Foreground="{ThemeResource ApplicationForegroundBrush}" />

6.2 Supporting Dark Mode

UWP can automatically support dark mode based on user settings. This allows users to choose their preferred UI theme. The combination of dark mode and light mode can further enhance user experience.

7. Conclusion

The resources provided by the system in UWP development play a crucial role in improving the quality of applications. By effectively utilizing image, string, style, and theme resources, a consistent user experience can be delivered across various devices. By making good use of these resources, more attractive and functional applications can be developed.

Additionally, using the resources provided by UWP for development can lead to more flexible and diverse UIs. Consequently, users will be able to conveniently and easily use the features they desire.

From the basics to advanced processes of UWP development, make your unique application by effectively utilizing various resources! I hope this article serves as a helpful guide in your UWP development journey.

Windows Universal Platform (UWP) development is ideal for creating applications that can run on various devices. UWP provides powerful UI tools and a variety of features that help developers offer a flexible user experience. In this post, we will learn how to specify a gradient effect using the properties window in UWP applications.

What is a Gradient Effect?

A gradient effect refers to a visual effect created by the smooth blending of two or more colors. This effect adds depth and sophistication to UI design, enhancing the user experience. In UWP, gradient effects can be easily applied using LinearGradientBrush and RadialGradientBrush.

Applying Gradient Effects in UWP

To apply gradient effects in UWP, we use XAML and C#. First, open Visual Studio and create a new UWP project. Then, we will look at how to set up gradients using the properties window in the XAML file.

1. Creating a Project

1. After opening Visual Studio, click on “New Project.”
2. Select the UWP application template and click “Next.”
3. Specify the project name and location, then click “Create.”

2. Modifying the XAML File

Once the project is created, open the MainPage.xaml file. Here, we will apply a gradient background to the Grid element.

<Page
    x:Class="YourNamespace.MainPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:YourNamespace"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d">
    
    <Grid>
        <Grid.Background>
            <LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="1,1">
                <GradientStop Color="SkyBlue" Offset="0"/>
                <GradientStop Color="White" Offset="1"/>
            </LinearGradientBrush>
        </Grid.Background>

        <TextBlock Text="Gradient Effect Example" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   FontSize="32" 
                   Foreground="Black"/>
    </Grid>
</Page>

In the above code, we applied a gradient effect using LinearGradientBrush. By setting the StartPoint and EndPoint properties, we can specify the direction in which the colors change.

3. Setting Gradients through the Properties Window

In UWP development, the properties window is a useful tool that allows you to intuitively adjust the properties of UI elements. By using the properties window, you can visually edit elements without directly accessing the code.

1. After selecting MainPage.xaml, find the Background item in the properties window on the right.
2. Click the ... button to open a window where you can select a gradient brush.
3. Here, you can freely set the gradient colors, direction, etc.

4. Using RadialGradientBrush

RadialGradientBrush allows you to apply a gradient effect where colors blend in a circular manner. Here is an example of applying RadialGradientBrush.

<Grid.Background>
    <RadialGradientBrush Center="0.5,0.5" RadiusX="0.5" RadiusY="0.5">
        <GradientStop Color="Pink" Offset="0"/>
        <GradientStop Color="Red" Offset="1"/>
    </RadialGradientBrush>
</Grid.Background>

By adjusting the Center and Radius of RadialGradientBrush as shown in the above code, you can create more diverse gradient effects.

Conclusion

In this post, we learned how to apply gradient effects using the properties window in UWP development. You can create various color combinations and effects through LinearGradientBrush and RadialGradientBrush. Utilize UWP’s powerful UI features to develop more attractive applications.

If you would like to learn more about other UWP-related APIs and effects, please refer to Microsoft’s official documentation. In the next post, we will discuss more advanced UI effects and how to apply animations. Thank you!

Hello! In this tutorial, we will take a closer look at two important concepts in Windows UWP (Universal Windows Platform) development: Dependency Properties and Attached Properties. UWP is a powerful platform that supports the development of applications that can run on a variety of devices. Dependency Properties and Attached Properties play a crucial role in setting and controlling the properties of UI elements within this platform.

1. What are Dependency Properties?

Dependency Properties are a concept introduced in WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) that is also adopted in UWP. Dependency Properties have the following characteristics:

• They can define the properties of UI elements.
• They can track changes to property values and update the UI based on those changes.
• They support data binding and styling features.

1.1 Structure of Dependency Properties

To define a Dependency Property, you need to create a class that inherits from the DependencyObject class and register the necessary Dependency Properties. For this, you will use the DependencyProperty.Register method.

Example: Defining a Custom Dependency Property

using Windows.UI.Xaml;

public class MyCustomControl : Control
{
    // Defining Dependency Property
    public static readonly DependencyProperty MyPropertyProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register(
            "MyProperty",
            typeof(string),
            typeof(MyCustomControl),
            new PropertyMetadata(default(string)));

    // CLR Property Wrapper
    public string MyProperty
    {
        get { return (string)GetValue(MyPropertyProperty); }
        set { SetValue(MyPropertyProperty, value); }
    }
}

The code above defines a custom control named MyCustomControl and registers a Dependency Property called MyProperty.

1.2 Characteristics of Dependency Properties

Dependency Properties have various characteristics. By default, here are some of them:

• Default Value: You can set the default value of a property.
• Change Notification: You can receive notifications when the property value changes.
• Data Binding: You can bind properties to a data context.

2. What are Attached Properties?

Attached Properties are properties used to provide additional properties to specific objects. These properties are typically used in other classes and are very useful in design scenarios. They are useful for providing directional information (e.g., layout information regarding specific UI elements).

2.1 Structure of Attached Properties

The method of defining Attached Properties is similar to that of defining Dependency Properties. They can be defined accordingly.

Example: Defining an Attached Property

public static class MyAttachedProperties
{
    public static readonly DependencyProperty IsMyPropertyProperty =
        DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached(
            "IsMyProperty",
            typeof(bool),
            typeof(MyAttachedProperties),
            new PropertyMetadata(false));

    public static void SetIsMyProperty(UIElement element, bool value)
    {
        element.SetValue(IsMyPropertyProperty, value);
    }

    public static bool GetIsMyProperty(UIElement element)
    {
        return (bool)element.GetValue(IsMyPropertyProperty);
    }
}

The code above defines an Attached Property named IsMyProperty in the MyAttachedProperties class. Attached Properties can be applied to UI elements of other classes from outside the class.

2.2 Use of Attached Properties

Attached Properties are primarily useful in the following situations:

• A parent element can pass data to child elements.
• You can dynamically add properties to a specific UI element as needed.
• They are useful for layout and style adjustments.

3. Comparison of Dependency Properties and Attached Properties

Dependency Properties are properties defined within a class, while Attached Properties are properties that can be set externally on specific UI elements. Dependency Properties can be directly used in instances of the class, whereas Attached Properties are primarily used as additional properties for UI elements.

4. Examples of Dependency Properties and Attached Properties

Below is a simple example of using both Dependency Properties and Attached Properties together.

Example: Combining Custom Control with Attached Properties

public class MyCustomControl : Control
{
    // Defining Dependency Property
    public static readonly DependencyProperty MyPropertyProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register(
            "MyProperty",
            typeof(string),
            typeof(MyCustomControl),
            new PropertyMetadata(default(string)));

    public string MyProperty
    {
        get { return (string)GetValue(MyPropertyProperty); }
        set { SetValue(MyPropertyProperty, value); }
    }
}

public static class MyAttachedProperties
{
    public static readonly DependencyProperty IsMyPropertyProperty =
        DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached(
            "IsMyProperty",
            typeof(bool),
            typeof(MyAttachedProperties),
            new PropertyMetadata(false));

    public static void SetIsMyProperty(UIElement element, bool value)
    {
        element.SetValue(IsMyPropertyProperty, value);
    }

    public static bool GetIsMyProperty(UIElement element)
    {
        return (bool)element.GetValue(IsMyPropertyProperty);
    }
}

5. Practical Example: Building a Simple UWP App

Now, let’s apply the above Dependency Properties and Attached Properties to a simple UWP application.

5.1 Writing the XAML File

<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:controls="using:MyApp.Controls">

    <Grid>
        <controls:MyCustomControl MyProperty="Hello, World!" 
            local:MyAttachedProperties.IsMyProperty="True" />
    </Grid>
</Page>

5.2 Writing the C# Code

using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;

namespace MyApp
{
    public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
    {
        public MainPage()
        {
            this.InitializeComponent();
        }
    }
}

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored the concepts of Dependency Properties and Attached Properties in UWP development. Dependency Properties manage the properties of custom controls, while Attached Properties are used to dynamically add additional properties to UI elements. Properly leveraging these two concepts can greatly assist in developing large-scale applications.

Now you have the foundation to enrich your UWP applications using Dependency Properties and Attached Properties. Furthermore, apply these concepts to create applications with various features!