Universal Windows Platform apps: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Wikipedia App snapped to Windows 8 desktop.png|thumb|Left: A traditional desktop app without contents; it is showing 60 [[Widget (GUI)|graphical widgets]], and a thick border.<br/>Right: Metro-style app; entirely composed of contents]]

'''Universal Windows Platform''' ('''UWP''') '''apps'''<ref>{{citation|title=Microsoft is trying to change Windows software forever — here's why it'll be a tough fight|first=Matt|last=Weinberger|date=March 17, 2016|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-universal-windows-platform-explained|access-date=June 27, 2016}}</ref> (formerly named '''Windows Store apps''', '''Metro-style apps''' and '''Modern apps''')<ref name=Harrel>{{citation|title=Metro, Modern, Now Universal? Microsoft Can't Make Up Its Mind!|first=William|last=Harrel|date=April 10, 2015|work=Digital Trends|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-universal-apps/|access-date=June 27, 2016}}</ref> are [[Application software|applications]] that can be used across all compatible [[Microsoft Windows]] devices. They are primarily purchased and downloaded via the [[Microsoft Store]], Microsoft's digital application storefront.<ref>{{citation|title=Microsoft's Windows app strategy comes under fire: 'The most aggressive move Microsoft has ever made'|first=Matt|last=Weinberger|date=March 4, 2016|work=Business Insider|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/epic-ceo-tim-sweeney-slams-windows-10-2016-3|access-date=June 27, 2016}}</ref> UWP stopped adding new features in October 2021,<ref>https://www.developer-tech.com/news/microsoft-universal-windows-platform-finally-being-sunset/</ref> but toolchain updates continue to be made.<ref>https://devblogs.microsoft.com/ifdef-windows/preview-uwp-support-for-dotnet-9-native-aot/</ref>

==Nomenclature==

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===Windows Runtime===

Traditionally, Windows software is developed using the [[Windows API]]. Software has access to the Windows [[API]] with no arbitrary restrictions. Developers were free to choose their own [[programming language]] and [[development tool]]s. Metro-style apps can only be developed using [[Windows Runtime]] (WinRT). (Note that not every app using WinRT is a Metro-style app.) A limited subset of WinRT is also available for also conventional desktop apps.<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows Runtime 8.x APIs for desktop apps|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/apiindex/winrt-apis-for-desktop-apps|website=Windows App Development|via=[[Microsoft Learn]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref> Calling a forbidden API disqualifies the app from appearing on Windows Store.

Metro-style apps can only be developed using Microsoft's own development tools. According to Allen Bauer, Chief Scientist of [[Embarcadero Technologies]], there are APIs that every computer program must call but Microsoft has forbidden them, except when the call comes from Microsoft's own [[Visual C++]] runtime.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grange|first=Eric|title=Why no native WinRT support in Delphi XE3?|url=http://www.delphitools.info/2012/08/23/why-no-native-winrt-support-in-delphi-xe3/|work=DelphiTools|access-date=13 January 2014|date=23 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Tim|title=Third-party compilers locked out of Windows Runtime development|url=http://www.itwriting.com/blog/6347-third-party-compilers-locked-out-of-windows-runtime-development.html|work=Tim Anderson's ITWriting|access-date=13 January 2014|date=23 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bauer|first=Allen|title=HTML5 Builder|url=https://forums.embarcadero.com/message.jspa?messageID=484319#484319|work=Embarcadero Developer Network|publisher=Embarcadero Technologies|access-date=13 January 2014|date=22 August 2012|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614102211/https://forums.embarcadero.com/message.jspa?messageID=484319#484319|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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'''APPX''' is a [[file format]] used to distribute and install apps on Windows 8.x, 10, 11, Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 10 Mobile, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, HololensHoloLens, and Windows 10 IoT Core.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/apps/hh464929(v=win.10) |title=App packages and deployment (Windows Runtime apps) |work=Windows 8 development |date=6 October 2015 |via=[[Microsoft Learn]] |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> APPX was originally the only installation system allowed for UWP apps, replacing the [[XAP (file format)|XAP]] file format on [[Windows Phone 8.1]], in an attempt to unify the distribution of apps for Windows Phone and Windows 8.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/11/5400660/windows-phone-8-1-features-leaked |title=Windows Phone 8.1 includes universal apps and lots of feature updates |first=Tom |last=Warren |date=11 February 2014 |publisher=[[Vox Media]]|work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> APPX files are only compatible with Windows Phone 8.1 and later versions, and with Windows 8 and later versions.<ref>[http://www.wphoneapps.net/2013/12/how-to-install-xap-file-on-windows-phone.html How to Install APPX File on Windows Phone 8.1] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425033027/http://www.wphoneapps.net/2013/12/how-to-install-xap-file-on-windows-phone.html |date=April 25, 2015 }}</ref>

The [[Windows Phone Store|Windows Phone 8.x Marketplace]] allowed users to download APPX files to an [[SD Cardcard]] and install them manually. In contrast, sideloading of UWP apps was prohibited on Windows 8.x, unless the user had a developers license or was in a business ___domain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howtogeek.com/129535/how-to-sideload-modern-apps-on-windows-8/ |title=How To Sideload Modern Apps on Windows 8 |work=How-To Geek|date=23 November 2012 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=March 2016}}

===MSIX===

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[[Windows 10]] version 1709 and [[Windows Server 2019]] LTSC introduced a new installation package format called '''MSIX''', which is intended to be a replacement for both the APPX format and the [[Windows Installer]] (.msi) desktop application installation format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/overview|title=What is MSIX?|date=11 June 2022|access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> MSIX is now the preferred way of distributing UWP apps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/publish/?tabs=individual%2Cmsix-pwa-getting-started|title=Get started: Publish your first app in the Microsoft Store|date=23 July 2024|access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref> An open source project called MSIX Core was started to provide MSIX support for Windows versions earlier than Windows 10 version 1709.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/msix/msix-core/msixcore|title=MSIX Core|date=6 October 2022|access-date=3 September 2024}}</ref>

==Security==