Getting Started with Windows IoT

Welcome to the world of Windows IoT! This guide will walk you through the essential steps to begin developing with Windows IoT, enabling you to build innovative and connected devices.

Windows IoT is a version of Windows designed for intelligent devices, from industrial controllers to smart home appliances. It offers the power, flexibility, and familiar development tools of Windows, optimized for device scenarios.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have the following:

Step 1: Set up your Development Environment

Install Visual Studio

If you haven't already, download and install Visual Studio Community Edition or a higher version. During installation, make sure to select the "Universal Windows Platform development" workload. This includes the necessary SDKs and tools.

Download Visual Studio: Visual Studio Downloads

Configure your IoT Device

Connect your IoT device to power and your development network. Follow the specific instructions for your device to prepare it for Windows IoT. This typically involves flashing an OS image.

Refer to your device's manufacturer documentation for detailed setup procedures.

Step 2: Create Your First Windows IoT Application

Let's create a simple "Hello, IoT!" application to get you familiar with the development process.

Create a new UWP Project

  1. Open Visual Studio.
  2. Click "Create a new project".
  3. Search for "Blank App (Universal Windows)" and select it.
  4. Click "Next".
  5. Name your project (e.g., "MyFirstIoTApp") and choose a location.
  6. Click "Create".

Add a simple UI Element

Open the MainPage.xaml file and replace its content with the following simple XAML:

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

    <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center">
        <TextBlock Text="Hello, Windows IoT!" FontSize="48" TextAlignment="Center"/>
        <TextBlock Text="Welcome to your first IoT app!" FontSize="24" TextAlignment="Center" Margin="0,10,0,0"/>
    </StackPanel>
</Page>

Deploy and Run

In Visual Studio, select your target device from the dropdown list in the toolbar (e.g., "Remote Machine"). You might need to configure the connection details for your IoT device.

Press F5 or click the "Start" button to build and deploy your application to the IoT device.

You should see the "Hello, Windows IoT!" message displayed on your device's screen.

Next Steps

Congratulations on building your first Windows IoT application! Here are some paths to continue your learning journey: