25 Tools You Can Use for Windows 8 Store App Development

Introduction

As a developer, you realize that there is no want to begin from scratch, nor is there any motive to reinvent the wheel. In this text you're provided with 25 tools that you can use to make your windows shop App development a lot easier. this is just a starting list of tools i have found that appear profitable. when you have seen different equipment which are desirable, sense free to remark after this text; but, keep your remarks brief so you don't get it deleted as unsolicited mail!

Twenty-5 is lots of tools, so i have broken these into a number of categories:

• gear
• SDKs
• Libraries & Controls
• video games
• add-ins

Tools

the following are a few development tools or related merchandise that you can use to expand windows 8.x keep apps or enhance upon your already present home windows eight.x apps.

1. visible Studio 2012 / 2013

name me biased, but i use Microsoft visible Studio. Microsoft visible Studio is probably the great improvement tool to use to broaden programs for home windows 8.x. With visual Studio you could increase home windows 8.x apps with VB.net, C#, or maybe JavaScript. It affords a variety of templates for the programming languages I noted in advance. It permits you to design your app's Interface easily, and it affords the XAML code for all of the controls you have got located to your web page. you could layout, write, and take a look at all of your apps in one region. you can down load the express editions (that is totally loose, however has restricted capabilities) of visible Studio 2012 (for windows eight ) and visual Studio 2013 (for home windows eight.1) here.

2. Ignite UI

Ignite UI, formerly called NetAdvantage, lets in developers to create cell and desktop studies which are touch-enabled and browser primarily based. Ignite UI is a hard and fast of jQuery core, jQuery UI and jQuery cellular JavaScript libraries which may be used with HTML 5 (consumer-aspect) or ASP.net MVC (server-facet) packages. a number of its controls consist of:

• records Chart
• Geospatial Mapping
• statistics Grid
• Hierarchical records Grid
• OLAP / Multi-Dimensional Pivot Grid
• Date Picker
• Editors
• blend field
• HTML Editor
• PDF & XPS
• dialog Window
• report upload
• score
• Video participant
• Tree
• mobile Controls for cellphone Apps

3. PhoneGap

PhoneGap is an open supply framework that assists in creating apps with HTML, CSS and JavaScript. previously called Apache Cordova, PhoneGap has installed itself as considered one of the most important gamers while developing apps for computing device, cell and the net. it is Open supply, as i have referred to, so that means that it'll constantly be loose and because of the big network continuously operating on it, will usually develop and turn out to be higher with every release. extra information about PhoneGap and the down load may be determined right here.

4. Sencha contact

Sencha touch package deal is an HTML5 product suite that permits developers to design, develop and set up apps to cellular or laptop from one incorporated surroundings. The package includes Charting controls in addition to Grid controls, which appears to be the maximum famous classes for all improvement suites, besides visual Studio. The motive I point out this right here is because of ease of use. in case you want the equal manipulate-suites, but with a piece less attempt, Sencha contact is without a doubt the way to move!

5. TheAppBuilder

TheAppBuilder ( from JamPot ) is one of the first gear that provided cross-platform development and assist. With TheAppBuilder you could broaden apps for Android, iOS, HTML 5 and home windows 8.x. it's miles pretty straightforward to apply as most of the work gets performed by way of TheAppBuilder itself, because of the reality that you do not want predominant coding or layout talents. download it right here.

6. XAML spy

windows eight.x store apps' designs are made from XAML, that's why XAML undercover agent is vital to any developer. XAML undercover agent is essentially a visual runtime inspector for technology such as windows smartphone 8.x, windows keep 8.x, Silverlight and WPF (windows Presentation foundation) Apps. What this means is: XAML spy may be used to gain get right of entry to to all components of walking XAML apps. XAML undercover agent also can screen events in strolling XAML apps, extract XAML code from walking XAML apps, and examine records of going for walks XAML apps. XAML spy may be used as a visible Studio extension, or as a standalone software.

7. ZipApp

ZipApp is supported by using Nokia and Microsoft and is a very easy to use on-line home windows store app creator. It carries many templates and alertness resources that make the advent of any windows save app a laugh and easy. You sign in a name for your app and start designing the features. it's miles actually a two minute procedure, and as soon as finished, it permits you to download your app so that you can in addition personalize it with a device along with visual Studio, or upload it without delay to the windows shop.

SDKs

the subsequent few SDKs are simply some of the majestic software program improvement kits to be had. With this list i can try to deal with numerous worries about bills and safety, as well as strive to reveal you what can be accomplished with a home windows 8 save app. The listing is as follows:

8. Adreno

any other first rate and really useful SDK from QualComm is the Adreno SDK. This SDK includes Gaming & pics Optimization libraries and samples for running with OpenGL ES, DirectX, OpenCL, and OpenSL API’s on windows 8.x. you could download the SDK for windows eight.x right here.

9. AllJoyn

AllJoyn provides a ordinary software program framework. In layman's terms which means that AllJoyn allows builders to create a proximal network of interconnected computers, cell devices domestic media gadgets and automobile devices. through AllJoyn builders can speak with these types of devices via one software. the entirety is hooked up, and consequently any information is obtainable. AllJoyn is Open source, so it's miles unfastened. The AllJoyn SDK and documentation for home windows eight.x may be located here.

10. FastCV

FastCV (computer imaginative and prescient) from QualComm turns your tool's digital camera into a good deal extra than a digicam! FastCV permits you to add new exciting capabilities into your windows store digital camera-primarily based apps along with: face detection, gesture recognition, augmented truth and textual content popularity and monitoring. you may download the FastCV totally free here.

11. Parse windows 8 SDK

Securing facts has usually been a pain to many a developer. it's far in order that a great deal paintings! enter Parse SDK for windows eight.x. With the Parse SDK for windows 8.x you may securely keep your statistics and control users with .internet (intertwined with LINQ) code present inside the SDK. there's more to the Parse SDK. you can additionally query your established data, geolocations and pictures. you could download it here.

12. PayPal windows eight Checkout

all of us understand what PayPal is and what it does, subsequently this little gem's inclusion in this list. The PayPal windows eight.x Checkout SDK facilitates you integrate the PayPal functionality into your home windows eight.x keep apps. you may find the SDK and documentation of usage for windows eight.x here.

Libraries & Controls
the subsequent list of controls and libraries will make your home windows eight.x improvement existence lots less difficult. these vary barely from SDKs as these most effective supply the controls or libraries you may upload to visible Studio. a number of them are free; a few offer a free Trial so you can determine later if you really want to purchase them. permit's have a closer look.

13. factor One Studio for WinRT XAML

issue One Studio for WinRT XAML is designed with touch-First experiences in thoughts. you may attention to your business common sense, in place of reinventing the wheel with the help of factor One Studio for WinRT. those controls are built with the windows save in thoughts and assist the contemporary UI layout and interaction tips distinct by Microsoft. these controls encompass: PdfViewer, FlexGrid, Chart, Calendar, TabControl, TileView, TreeView, Zip and layout Panels.

14. DevExpress home windows eight XAML Controls

DevExpress has been round a totally, very long time. With a depended on name, person's already realize what to expect from them! With the usage of their home windows eight XAML Controls, you may create windows eight.x answers that deliver for the end-users desires. They offer excessive performance controls that utilizes the whole energy of home windows 8.x so that you can focus on the commercial enterprise logic. down load it here.

15. Infragistics NetAdvantage for windows UI

Infragistics NetAdvantage for home windows UI is quite a mouthful, but, their controls suite is just as jam packed full of cool controls you can use to make your windows eight.x keep app introduction easier. some of the controls encompass: statistics Chart, Grid, Calendar, Barcode, foreign money enter, Masked input and the staying power Framework. A listing of to be had controls for the libraries follows:

HTML

Information Chart

• Grid
• Hierarchical Grid
• Map
• Pie Chart
• Date Editor
• Date Picker
• forex Editor
• Numeric Editor
• Masked Editor
• textual content Editor

XAML

statistics Chart

• Grid (CTP)
• Barcode
• Calendar
• forex enter
• DateTime enter
• Masked input
• Numeric enter
• Excel Framework (CTP)
• endurance Framework (CTP)

16. Telerik RadControls for windows eight XAML

Telerik controls for windows 8 XAML consists of AutoCompleteBox, Chart, Gauge, DataStorage, Grid, Pagination, HubTile and TimePicker to name only a few. these libraries are constructed in full compliance with the windows save UI necessities. This makes reputation in the home windows shop an awful lot easier. Their libraries are very quick, fluent and really hip. Telerik has always been one among my preferred resources of components and libraries and with every new tool they produce, they just get better and better. down load the tools right here.

video games

For the gamers available, we did now not neglect approximately you! those sport studios will help you make exceptional second or even more three-D video games. All of those that I point out here are very smooth to apply and inexpensive. they're as follows:

17. MonoGame

MonoGame is the Open supply equivalent to Microsoft's XNA Framework located on CodePlex. CodePlex must be the great vicinity to find any Open source code. i've made use of a number of their merchandise within the past and it's far always of high exceptional. With MonoGame but, XNA development is not limited to best Microsoft; it can be ported to iOS, Android, Mac OS X, Linux and windows 8. it's far a hundred% unfastened and you could start developing your sport now. There are quite a few examples and documentation to be had on the MonoGame website. down load MonoGame right here.

18. Platformer recreation Starter kit

Platformer recreation Starter package for home windows eight.x lets you construct games for the home windows 8.x shop easily. The starter package includes the supply code as well as unfastened sport art to use. All you need is visual Studio and the Platformer sport Starter kit. They offer loose help in getting your recreation submitted to the home windows eight.x keep, that is worthwhile to any programmer. Very smooth to apply, and best to paintings with. download the Platformer recreation Starter kit here.

19. Scirra Construct2

construct 2 from Scirra is a recreation maker no longer only for the home windows 8.x keep, however also for iOS, Android, home windows phone, Mac, BlackBerry, facebook, Chrome internet shop and Firefox marketplace that enables recreation advent even when you have never coded on your life. There are over 70 visible results and it is absolutely extendible. because of its multi-platform nature, assemble 2 is one of the quality game maker studios you may ever find. Now, each person can create high-quality games. download a unfastened model right here.

20. SharpDX

SharpDX is an open-source project encompassing DirectX and the .internet Platform. This allows you to create excessive overall performance second and 3-D portraits for all windows systems. All you need to do is to download the code and start building your apps the usage of excessive-performance graphics. there is a ton of documentation available. down load it here.

21. Unity3D

The cohesion recreation Engine is probably the exceptional sport engine round for cellular app builders. It helps iOS, Blackberry, Android, windows store and windows telephone! It, consistent with them, is a powerful rendering engine fully integrated with a whole set of intuitive tools and rapid workflows to create interactive three-D content; easy multiplatform publishing; hundreds of excellent, ready-made assets in the Asset store and a information-sharing network.

22. Yoyo recreation Maker Studio

GameMaker Studio lets in amateur and pro sport builders to create cross-platform video games in no time and could be very affordable. you could export your video games into more than one platforms, your pleasant and overall performance is outstanding, plus there are plenty of developer offerings (together with monetizing your recreation) available. Oh, and did I point out how easy it's miles to use? download it right here now and have a look at all of the different to be had alternatives.

add-Ins

add-ins are easy tools you may contain into visible Studio. They aid within the development procedure of home windows 8.x keep games. those fit in nicely with visible Studio, to make windows eight shop app creation even more fun and clean. they're as follows:

23. ComponentArt statistics Visualization for visible Studio

ComponentArt records Visualization for visible Studio is, as the call shows, an upload-in for visible Studio 2012 and 2013. All controls are based totally on the new WinRT API and optimized for contact input and cell CPUs. these controls consist of: Chart, Gauges, DataGrids, Maps, Navigators and Calculators. down load it here.

24. visible web GUI

With visual internet GUI from Gizmox, you could create HTML5 apps completely from scratch, or reconfigure your code to natural HTML5. The motive I brought this entry here is again, ease of use. HTML 5 is fairly new to programmers, but if they are able to realise how easy it's miles, there may be millions more HTML five apps on the home windows 8.x shop. HTML 5 is likewise like minded with most cell gadgets and operating systems. download the upload-in right here.

25. windows App Certification kit

The home windows App Certification kit comes set up with visible Studio. It aids in getting your apps equipped for the windows 8.x save. This little device facilitates rather as it could be quite frustrating getting the entirety best for the windows eight.x save. In an editorial posted at the fifth of August, I wrote in detail about the home windows App Certification package, experience free to test it out here. If however, you go to sleep on the sound of my voice, you may study Microsoft's documentation here.