Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript

by Rami Sarieddine

The Windows store is growing in popularity and with this step-by-step guide it's easy to join the bandwagon using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. From basic development techniques to publishing on the store, it's the complete primer.

Overview

Learn about the powerful new features in HTML5 and CSS3
Quick start a JavaScript app from scratch
Get your app into the store and learn how to add authentication

In Detail

Windows 8 has already been launched and been installed on millions of devices while the store is getting populated with apps, and soon enough everyone will want a Windows Store app. So start now and learn how to develop apps for Windows 8 using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript and you will be killing two birds with one stone by getting introduced to important features in HTML5 and CSS3 at the same time. You will gain the advantage of utilizing your web development skills to transform your website into an app or the other way round.

Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript is a practical, hands-on guide that covers the basic and important features of a Windows Store App along with code examples which will show you how to develop these features, all the while learning some of the new features in HTML5 and CSS3 which you can utilize in other areas of development.

This book starts with the new features in HTML5 and CSS3 that are incorporated with Windows 8 development, and then moves on to creating a blank Windows Store app and add features to it as we move through the chapters till we package the app and make it ready for publishing. Finally, we will have a look at how similar it is to develop the same app with XAML.

You will also learn how to add and use new controls dedicated for Windows 8 and then see how to fetch data for the app and bind it to the controls. We will also take a look at making the app adapt to change in screen sizes and rotation as well as how to make the app live with tiles and allow users to sign in using their email accounts. Also you will learn how to add an app bar, and lastly you learn how to finalize the app and publish it. If you want to leverage your web development skills and utilize it in developing for Windows 8, then you came to the right place. Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript is packed with examples and screenshots which will make it easy for you to implement all the things you learned throughout the book.

What you will learn from this book

Using HTML5 elements
Styling with CSS3
Using Windows Library for JavaScript controls
Getting data via web URLs and binding it to controls
Creating a blank Windows Store JavaScript app
Understanding view states and making the app responsive
Adding live tiles and notifications for the app
Creating a basic app using XAML
Adding user sign-in features via email accounts
Understanding the Windows Store and publishing the app

Approach

This book is a hands-on guide that follows a step-by-step tutorial approach which discusses Windows 8 application development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.

Who this book is written for

This book is great for developers who want to start developing for Windows 8 and it also targets developers who want to get introduced to powerful advancements in standards-based web technology, while using it to build Windows Store apps, as well as leveraging their existing skills and code assets in web development.

Paperback

First published July 9, 2015

About the author

During the day I work as a Technical Evangelist with Microsoft while managing the Windows Apps ecosystem in the Gulf region. When not working, I try to write technical books. I have 2 published books to date which include:

- Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript
- JavaScript Promises Essentials

Prior to joining Microsoft I was writing code and developing web applications for some good 7 years. I was awarded Microsoft Valued Professional (MVP) in ASP.NET/IIS and Visual C#, in 2012 and 2013 consecutively . In that period, I was working closely with Microsoft Lebanon, and was featured a frequent speaker at their events namely TechDays Beirut and Open Door. As part of that tenure, I have delivered numerous training sessions and workshops on HTML5, .NET, Windows Apps, Visual Studio and Microsoft Azure targeting developers, IT enthusiasts and university students.