Developing Windows 8 Metro Applications without Visual Studio 11

Question

I've downloaded Windows Developer Preview with developer tools and installed it using VirtualBox on my work computer which has Hardware-Assisted Virtualization. I made a simple Metro HTML/Javascript application and then I went home excited to make something more serious.

At home, I realized I have a 64-bit machine with no Hardware-Assited Virtualization. Then these problems arose:

• The lack of Hardware-assisted Virtualization prevents me from running it on VirtualBox or any other virtualization software.
• The installation image size is 4.8GB and DVD's have 4.7GB so I can't install it on a DVD.
• I don't have a Dual-Layer DVD reader/recorder.
• I don't have a Pen and I'm not sure if It would install well from a Pen even if I got it.
• I could install a smaller version of Windows 8 with no Developer Tools and install them later but they are not available to download anywhere.

The solution I came with was to install a smaller version of Windows 8 with no developer tools. Since Metro applications can be made using HTML/Javascript, I guess I don't need Visual Studio 11 to make them. Do I?

Answer 1

Install the 64Bit version and wait till Friday to get the VS11 Developer Preview as a standalone download, if you're no MSDN subscriber:

Today in the BUILD keynote I had the opportunity to show some of the new functionality in Microsoft® Visual Studio® 11 Developer Preview and Microsoft® Team Foundation Server Preview.  MSDN subscribers can download the previews today as well as the new release of .NET Framework 4.5 Developer Preview; general availability is on Friday, September 16.

• Download Visual Studio 11, Team Foundation Server 11, and several other components today (MSDN Subscribers Only Downloads).
• Friday 10:00 AM PDT general availability for Visual Studio 11 and Team Foundation Server 11 can be downloaded.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jasonz/archive/2011/09/14/announcing-visual-studio-11-developer-preview.aspx

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"A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code"

Answer 2

Thank you. But is it possible to build Metro JS applications without Visual Studio 11?

Answer 3

I'd doubt it. It looks like they target the 4.5 framework, which you can only get with VS 11.

I guess you could develop some of it, but you wouldn't have access to the metro APIs.

Answer 4

You will need to use Visual Studio 11 if you want to build Metro style applications.

Answer 5

If you want to use the 4.8GB download, but can't fit it on a DVD then download the ISO to your computer then in VirtualBox (before you start Windows) set it up as a CD drive (you can add a CD drive and have it point to the ISO you downloaded).  VirtualBox will see it as a mounted drive, regardless of the size.  That will allow you to install it.

Answer 6

If you want to use the 4.8GB download, but can't fit it on a DVD then download the ISO to your computer then in VirtualBox (before you start Windows) set it up as a CD drive (you can add a CD drive and have it point to the ISO you downloaded).  VirtualBox will see it as a mounted drive, regardless of the size.  That will allow you to install it.

You missed problem number one:

The lack of Hardware-assisted Virtualization prevents me from running it on VirtualBox or any other virtualization software.

Answer 7

I did miss that.  I believe you can run the 32-bit Windows 8 version without hardware virtualization in Virtual Box (and then download/install Visual Studio 2011 seperate). 

It sounds like you found the solution to your issue though.

Answer 8

You will need to use Visual Studio 11 if you want to build Metro style applications.

Is that really true? Or just what Microsoft highly suggests? Here's an article that seems to say the contrary:

http://peterdn.com/post/To-make-a-Metro-Appx-Package-from-scratch-you-must-first-e280a6.aspx

except it only covered C# so don't know what's the equivalent process or HTML/CSS/JS Metro apps.

I haven't tried it myself but assume it can work as the flow makes sense. I've used csc.exe before to compile C# Windows apps and DLLs.