Sunday, July 3, 2011

Windows 8, nothing to fear.

For the past few weeks, developers across the web have been worried about Microsoft Windows 8.

In a recent video(see below) released by the developers of Windows 8, they show the new ribbon UI, a lot like what is used on the Windows Mobile Phones (the Metro UI), but for a desktop, presumably with a touchscreen on it.



The thing that has a lot of people worried is that  in the video, Jensen Harris, says that HTML5 and JavaScript will be used to make the desktop apps, instead of Microsoft's widely popular .NET Framework, WPF and Silverlight development tools.



.... talked a bit about how developers will build apps for the new system. Windows 8 apps use the power of HTML5, tapping into the native capabilities of Windows using standard JavaScript and HTML to deliver new kinds of experiences. These new Windows 8 apps are full-screen and touch-optimized, and they easily integrate with the capabilities of the new Windows user interface. There’s much more to the platform, capabilities and tools than we showed today. (Previewing Windows 8, Julie Larson-Green.)
Though it seems as if a lot of people had taken a lot of what they where talking about out of context, it does in fact make sense. If you where a career WPF/Silverlight developer, and you had just found out that your career was threatened, and you had no way of finding out, because Microsoft would not comment on it, then you'd be upset enough to do the same thing as well.

But, in a recent release, Microsoft eased everyone's fears by explaining the entire situation.


HTML5 and JavaScript will can be used as partial development tools, and not sole tools in themselves. The .NET Framework will still be dominant (thank god), and finally, native C++ applications will have access to the .NET Framework. Thus giving them resolution-independent, vector-based, hardware accelerated framework for building user interfaces.


All in all, I think this will be a good step for Microsoft, but one cannot be sure, until you've had a chance to try out a product for yourself. Let's just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. 


(Resource: arstechinca, Windows 8 for software developers: the Longhorn Dream Reborn? and Microsoft News Center, Previewing Windows 8)

4 comments:

  1. GAH, I am so behind the times when it comes to both hardware, software, AND programming.

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  2. looks too directed at tablets rather than PCs

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  3. @Some Guy,

    I have to agree. Though, with the large amount of PC's already coming out that are sporting touch screens (walk into your local Bestbuy, you'll see) it is a good move. I can, though, see it being used on tablets though.

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  4. I kinda wish they would expand their interface into a 3d/dynamic aspect for those more spatially inclined. I think it could really increase workflow if properly implemented.

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