Windows 8 universal app development basics

Question

Hi,

I am planning to develop a brand new windows 8 app that can be used on both desktop and phone. 

Please help me with the tools that require for completing the project successfully.

Project Objective:

This is an app that can be shared by group of people, say 5 friends. All the 5 members of group installs the app either in phone or in desktop. Members enter data through the UI provided and data is stored in a central repository. The application will consolidate data, generate report and sends all the 5 members a copy.

Questions:

1. What are the tools i require ? I have a laptop that runs on Windows 8.1, Visual Studio 2013 Community

2. What database will be appropriate ? Thinking of Azure, does it suit my requirement?

3. Will I get all the features in VS Community 2013 version, to complete the app ?

4. The developer license has expiry date ?

Please help me with the answers that will help me a lot in kick-starting my project.

Thanks,

Siva Karthik N

Answer 1

Hi Siva,

Hope my reply will help you

1. What are the tools i require ? I have a laptop that runs on Windows 8.1, Visual Studio 2013 Community

Visual Studio latest version is suggested, Visual Studio 2013 Community on Windows 8.1 is enough.

2. What database will be appropriate ? Thinking of Azure, does it suit my requirement?

If you need a Database, please consider about SQLite, System.Data namespace is not supported in Windows Store app, and you could use WCF service as a communication channel to talk with remote SQL if necessary.

3. Will I get all the features in VS Community 2013 version, to complete the app ?

Yes, you will get all for win8.1, however I'm not sure about Win10 since there is no official documentation for that.

4. The developer license has expiry date ?

You mean the developer license when we want to develop something on Visual Studio? 30 days as I know.

--James

---

We are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time. Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.
Click HERE to participate the survey.

Answer 2

James,

Thank you very much for your ideas.

I have started learning SQLite. :)

About the 4th question, i asked about the developer license for the windows app development. The license we buy to post the apps to windows store and test on simulator. I heard, it has no expiry date. Please confirm.

Thanks,

Siva Karthik N

Answer 3

Hi Siva,

I know what you mean now, it has on expire date, but you need to sign in to renew your license every 90 days as I remember, I may need to find some documentation for you here.

--James

---

We are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time. Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.
Click HERE to participate the survey.

Answer 4

Here it is: Get a developer license

---

We are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time. Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.
Click HERE to participate the survey.

Answer 5

Hi Siva,

The Windows Store account that you need to post apps to the Windows Store costs about $20 and does not expire. This is different from the developer license that you need to build Windows Store apps and run them locally or on the simulator. The developer license (as Jamles says) is free, is per system (so if you have two computers they'll have separate licenses), and needs to be renewed every 30 or 90 days.

-Rob

Answer 6

Rob,

Thank you very much, I was confused about the windows store account and developer license. I got a developer license which solved another major issue with the design view of XAML page.

Regards,

Siva Karthik N 

Answer 7

James,

Thanks a lot. I got the developer license now. By the way, it is expiring after 6 months.

Regards,

Siva Karthik N