Lionel Camacho, UP Microsoft Student PartnerResources and slides available at: http://sdrv.ms/12zEt0F

A Little About Me

Studying: B.IS:

Multimedia Honours

UP Microsoft Student Partner

5 WP Apps

12 W8 Apps

lionelcamacho07@live.com

@LionelCamacho

Lionel CamachoFormer AppFactory intern

Student dev groups• Small groups (4-5 ppl) that meet up often• Showcase apps to each other• Help each other when problems arise

UP teams in competitions• More teams entering and winning at Imagine Cup from UP• UP teams winning at hackathons

Local is Lekker• More UP students developing locally relevant apps• At least one big app from UP student dev groups that solves a problem in Pretoria

What I want to achieve as MSP

Grow together

Build communities

Achieve goals together.

Why Develop for W8?

Free Store Accounts• Windows Store and Windows Phone Store• DreamSpark resources

Competitions + Prizes• Imagine Cup• Hackathons

Make Money• Selling apps• In-app purchases• Advertising

to the world!

Bring your ideas

The opportunity is yours.

More Reasons To Develop For W8

100 Million Licenses Sold• Large worldwide audience• Global client opportunities

Build Your Portfolio• Important to be able to showcase your skills when applying for jobs• Provides platform to have apps live in an app store

Local Relevance• South African audience have a massive need for apps relevant to them• You can provide unique solutions to problems present in South Africa

Getting Started

Tech Required

Windows 8 • Can only develop W8 apps and WP8 apps using Windows 8• WP7 apps can still be developed on Windows 7

Visual Studio 2012• Any version will do• Available on DreamSpark for free

W8 and WP8 SDK’s• Free to download

Skills Required

Imagination• For both design and app ideas• Creativity will help you create attractive apps

C# or C++ or VB and XAML• Down to personal choice what you want to use• XAML = Presentation, C#/C++/VB = code behind

HTML5 and JavaScript• Alternative choice, but just as powerful• HTML5 = presentation, JavaScript = code behind

Tools to succeed

Outside the box

Starting Point

dev.windows.com• SDK downloads, samples, documentation, design guidelines• Community support and forums

build.windowsstore.com• Join AppBuilder to get 30 day guidance building your 1st app

channel9.msdn.com/Windows• Limitless number of video tutorials Here for you

Your Idea.Your App.30 Days.

Building your 1st App

Step 1: Planning

What will your app be GREAT at?• Always the first question you should ask yourself• Gives you a clear focus on what should be most important• Give your app a unique name

Prioritize important features• Identify which features are absolutely necessary to have• Non crucial features that are nice to have identified

Define your target market• Identify who will be using your app and in what environments• Will be essential in deciding on your app design

Plan your pathBuild a

foundation

Text/Pic

Step 2: Design The UI

“Content over chrome”• Bring users straight into the content• Clean and clutter free design is key

“Fast and fluid”• Your app should feel fast and responsive• Transitions should feel ‘fluid’ and” smooth”

Draw your design• Plan how you envision the app will look and feel• Make the navigation between pages clear• Saves time by avoiding redesigns later

Get direction

Refine your idea

Envision

Step 2 (cont): Design The UI

AppBar• Most buttons in the main interface can be moved to app bar• Helps keep a cleaner design

Orientations + Snapping• Devices support different orientations• Snapped View must be supported so plan for it

Prototype• Simple prototyping ensures design and navigation make sense

Ensure usability

Strengthen design

Step 3: Coding

Programming language• Choose a language you are comfortable with• Personal choice, no real difference in what is possible

Templates• Quick and simple way to build simple informational apps• Best way to start an app for beginners

Prototypes• Simple prototyping ensures design and navigation make sense and can save time if there are problems

Use your talentsBuild your app

Step 4: Testing

Be thorough• Buggy apps will get poor ratings in the store• Test every feature as thoroughly as possible• Test for expected outputs and actual outputs

App Certification Kit• Powerful tool to test if app meets submission requirements• Reports if app passed or failed certification with reasons why

Fix errors, test again• If errors have been found, fix them and test EVERY feature again, sometimes a fix somewhere can break something elsewhere

Create stable appsFind problems

Step 5: Submitting to the Store

Screenshots• Will be the first things a user sees of your app in Store• Make a great first impression

Packages• Make sure you create the correct packages for the platforms you are targeting (RT, x86, x64, neutral)• Make sure all capabilities you use are selected and those you don’t are not

Regions + Pricing• Know the regions where your app is relevant• Price your app appropriately

Reach the world

Upload to the store

Step 6: Refine

User feedback• Check user ratings/reviews often• Listen to what users are saying

Fix and improve• Fix any reported errors• Search for areas of improvements

Regular updates• Don’t forget about your users• Continually improve and add new features• Users will appreciate a well maintained app

Gain loyal users

Improve your app

Value user input

You have now developed and submitted your first Windows 8 app.Congratulations!

Great opportunities await.

Have a look.

Microsoft YouthSpark

RSVP:Thabile Mdletshe

atv-thmdle@microsoft.com

or +27 11 467 4935

Seeking employment

Date:25 May 2013

Time:9:30am - 4:30pmInfluencing perc

eption

Thinking of a career in IT

Creating apps

Build your own business

Venue:Wits University,The Flower Hall,West Campus

Microsoft’s Premier Student Technology Competition• Windows 8 apps, Windows Phone 8 apps, Games, Azure apps• Variety of categories to enter

Prizes• Cash prizes• Technology prizes• Local winners get free trip to international destination to compete in the worldwide finals.

Make a name for yourself• Test your skills against the best in the country and the world

Imagine Cup

change the world

Your ideas can

The brightest minds in the country.

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8• Focus on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 apps

Local relevance• Aims to develop apps relevant for the local Store• Apps to help provide solutions to problems in SA

Kick start your dev career• Great opportunity to get hands on industry app dev experience• A one of a kind internship in South Africa• Amazing learning opportunities• Aims to be a Launchpad for young tech entrepreneurs to eventually start their own businesses

The AppFactory

@TheAppFactory

The AppFactory

Represent Microsoft on campus• Inspire Windows app dev on campus• Build apps• Share your knowledge with other students

Student community• Build student dev communities• Expand students horizons• Collaborate with other students at other varsities

Events• Host lectures, hackathons and competitions on campus• Attend official Microsoft events free of charge

Microsoft Student Partners

@wwmsp

Be a leader

Looking forward to seeing what you develop.

Thank you.