Getting Started with Windows Development

Welcome to the official Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) documentation for Windows. This guide will help you take your first steps into building modern applications for the Windows platform.

Choosing Your Path

Windows offers several powerful frameworks for application development, catering to different needs and skill sets. Explore the options below to find the best fit for your project.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

To start building Windows applications, you'll need the right tools. The Visual Studio family of IDEs is your primary gateway.

Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a comprehensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that supports all aspects of Windows development. It includes code editors, debuggers, designers, and much more.

Key Features:

• Code completion and IntelliSense
• Integrated debugging tools
• Extensive project templates
• Built-in Git support
• Access to NuGet package manager

Download the latest version of Visual Studio Community (free for individual developers and open-source projects) or Professional/Enterprise editions.

Windows SDK

The Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) provides the headers, libraries, and tools necessary to develop applications for Windows. It's typically installed with Visual Studio.

Your First Application

Let's get your hands dirty with a simple "Hello, World!" application. We'll use C# and UWP as an example.

// In your MainPage.xaml.cs
public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
{
    public MainPage()
    {
        this.InitializeComponent();
    }
}

// In your MainPage.xaml
<Page
    x:Class="MyFirstUWPApp.MainPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:MyFirstUWPApp"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d"
    Background="{ThemeResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">

    <Grid>
        <TextBlock Text="Hello, World!"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   FontSize="36"/>
    </Grid>
</Page>
                        

This basic example demonstrates creating a UWP app with a simple text element displayed in the center of the page. For more detailed tutorials, please refer to the links in the sidebar.