Windows IoT Documentation – Overview
What is Windows IoT?
Windows IoT (Internet of Things) is a family of operating systems from Microsoft that enables developers to build connected and intelligent devices for a wide range of industries, from industrial automation to consumer electronics. It provides a secure, scalable, and flexible platform that leverages the familiarity of Windows development tools while supporting the unique constraints of embedded hardware.
The Windows IoT portfolio includes:
- Windows IoT Core – A lightweight OS for low‑power devices and single‑app scenarios.
- Windows IoT Enterprise – Full‑featured Windows 10/11 Enterprise capabilities for complex, multi‑app solutions.
Key Features
- Universal Windows Platform (UWP) support – Build once, run on a range of device families.
- Secure boot and BitLocker – Hardware‑based security to protect data at rest.
- Azure IoT integration – Seamlessly connect devices to Azure IoT Hub, Edge, and Digital Twins.
- Rich device management – Over‑the‑air updates, remote diagnostics, and monitoring.
- Extensive peripheral support – GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, and PWM for direct hardware interaction.
Getting Started
Follow these steps to start building with Windows IoT:
- Download the Windows IoT Core Dashboard and flash the OS image onto a supported development board (e.g., Raspberry Pi 4).
- Install Visual Studio 2022 with the Desktop development with C++ and Universal Windows Platform development workloads.
- Create a new
Blank App (Universal Windows)project and selectTarget Device: Windows IoT Core. - Write your code, deploy, and debug directly on the device using Visual Studio’s remote debugger.
// Sample Hello World for Windows IoT Core
using Windows.UI.Xaml;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
{
public MainPage()
{
this.InitializeComponent();
this.Content = new TextBlock { Text = "Hello, Windows IoT!", FontSize = 24 };
}
}