Windows Development Guides: Overview

Welcome to the Windows development documentation portal. This section provides comprehensive guides and starting points for building applications and experiences on the Windows platform.

Windows offers a rich ecosystem for developers, from traditional desktop applications to modern Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps and cutting-edge experiences with WinUI. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just beginning your journey, you'll find the resources you need to succeed.

Getting Started with Windows Development

To begin developing for Windows, you'll typically need the following:

Visual Studio: The integrated development environment (IDE) for Windows development. Download the latest version with the necessary workloads.
Windows SDK: Contains headers, libraries, and tools required to build Windows applications. It's usually installed with Visual Studio.
A Windows Machine: For testing and debugging your applications.

Tip: For a seamless setup, install the "Universal Windows Platform development" or "Desktop development with C++" or ".NET desktop development" workloads in Visual Studio.

Key Development Platforms

Universal Windows Platform (UWP)

UWP allows you to create a single application that runs across all Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices, including PCs, tablets, Xbox, and HoloLens. It's designed for modern, touch-first experiences and provides access to a broad range of device capabilities.

WinUI

WinUI is the latest evolution of Windows UI development, providing native UI platform components and frameworks. It offers a modern, performant, and accessible way to build Windows desktop applications.

Win32 API

For deep system integration and traditional desktop applications, the Win32 API remains a powerful and fundamental choice. It provides low-level access to the Windows operating system.

Common Development Tasks

Here are some guides that cover common tasks and concepts:

Note: The Windows ecosystem is constantly evolving. Always refer to the latest SDK and documentation for the most up-to-date information and best practices.

Explore the left-hand navigation pane to dive deeper into specific topics, APIs, or development platforms.