Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript

Rami Sarieddine

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781849687102
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Application Development
• Index: Computer Science

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.

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 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.

Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript

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Table of Contents

Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript

Credits

About the Author

Acknowledgments

About the Reviewers

www.PacktPub.com

Support files, eBooks, discount offers and more

Why Subscribe?

Free Access for Packt account holders

Instant Updates on New Packt Books

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Errata

Piracy

Questions

1. HTML5 Structure

Understanding semantic elements

Introducing built-in media elements

Advanced media with JavaScript

Introducing feature-rich form elements

An enriched <input> tag

Easy validation

Assigning custom data attributes

Summary

2. Styling with CSS3

The power of CSS3 selectors

Attribute selectors

Combinator selectors

Pseudo-class selectors

Pseudo-element selectors

Creating fluid layouts with Grid and Flexbox

The Grid layout

The Flexbox layout

CSS-powered animations

CSS3 animations

CSS3 transforms

Introducing media queries

Summary

3. JavaScript for Windows Apps

Asynchronous programming with Promise objects

Querying the DOM with WinJS.Utilities

Understanding WinJS.xhr

Introducing a new set of controls

Summary

4. Developing Apps with JavaScript

Introducing the tools

Getting a free developer license

Using Visual Studio and its templates

Project item templates

Getting started with Blank App

Understanding the ListView control

Summary

5. Binding Data to the App

Getting the data

Displaying the data

Sorting and filtering the data

Summary

6. Making the App Responsive

Introducing app view states

Handling a view state

Understanding semantic zoom

Summary

7. Making the App Live with Tiles and Notifications

Introducing tiles, badges, and notifications

Working with live tiles

Sending notifications

Summary

8. Signing Users in

Introducing Live Connect

Signing in users to the app

Getting user info

Summary

9. Adding Menus and Commands

Understanding the app bar

Adding functionality to the commands

Summary

10. Packaging and Publishing

Introducing the Windows Store

Submitting the app for certification

The Store within Visual Studio

Creating an App Package

Summary

11. Developing Apps with XAML

Creating apps with different platforms

Introducing XAML apps

Adding a title, theme color, and content

Summary

Index

Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript

Copyright © 2013 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

First published: August 2013

Production Reference: 1160813

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

Livery Place

35 Livery Street

Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-84968-710-2

www.packtpub.com

Cover Image by Michel Makhoul (<[email protected]>)

Credits

Author

Rami Sarieddine

Reviewers

Nidal Arabi

Juri Strumpflohner

Jenil Vasani

Acquisition Editor

Kevin Colaco

Commissioning Editor

Priyanka Shah

Lead Technical Editor

Ankita Shashi

Technical Editors

Ruchita Bhansali

Jalasha D'costa

Menza Mathew

Project Coordinator

Kranti Berde

Copy Editors

Mradula Hegde

Sayanee Mukherjee

Aditya Nair

Alfida Paiva

Proofreader

Stephen Copestake

Indexer

Priya Subramani

Monica Ajmera Mehta

Graphics

Ronak Dhruv

Production Coordinator

Manu Joseph

Cover Work

Manu Joseph

About the Author

Rami Sarieddine is a Technical Evangelist for Windows Azure and Windows 8 with Microsoft Gulf. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was working as a Software Engineer and Analyst at the American University of Beirut. He has a cumulative 7 years of experience in web development. In the span of these 7 years, he started with an independent venture for around 2 years. After that he directly embarked on an employment journey that was rich with experience, during which he had led numerous projects and held several positions from Web Developer to Information Systems Analyst and Lead Web Developer.

He was Microsoft Valued Professional awardee in 2013 and 2012 for his contributions in the technical communities of Visual C# and ASP.NET/IIS respectively. The MVP award is an annual award that recognizes exceptional technology community leaders worldwide who actively share their high quality, real-world expertise with users and Microsoft. With fewer than 5,000 awardees worldwide, Microsoft MVPs represent a highly select group of experts.

He was selected speaker at the first Tech.Days Beirut event by Microsoft Lebanon. Soon after, he had become a regular speaker on training sessions at their main events including Open Door and Tech Days. He has been heavily involved with Microsoft Lebanon's developer communities and activities, delivering hands-on workshops on Windows 8, HTML5, Azure, and Visual Studio. His passion for pursuing knowledge and experience, and consequently sharing it with fellow web developers and enthusiasts drove him into starting his own technical blog.

When not working, he enjoys running and spending time with his loved ones. And when on vacations, he enjoys traveling and visiting new places around the world.

He can be reached at <[email protected]> and you can fo...

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• Developing Windows Store Apps with HTML5 and JavaScript