Universal Windows Platform
| A component of Microsoft Windows | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Type | Application programming interface |
| Included with | Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile, Windows Server 2016 |
| Replaces | Windows Runtime |
| Support status | |
| Current | |
| Related components | |
| Windows Store, Windows API | |
Universal Windows Platform (UWP), is a platform-homogeneous application architecture created by Microsoft and first introduced in Windows 10. The purpose of this software platform is to help develop Metro-style apps that run on both Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile without the need to be re-written for each. It supports Windows application development using C++, C#, VB.NET, or XAML. The API is implemented in C++, and supported in C++, VB.NET, C#, and JavaScript.[1] Designed as an extension to the Windows Runtime platform first introduced in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, the UWP allows developers to create applications that will potentially run on multiple types of devices.[2]
Compatibility
UWP is a part of Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile. UWP apps do not run on earlier Windows versions.
Apps that are capable of implementing this platform are natively developed using Visual Studio 2015. Older Metro-style apps for Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 or for both (universal 8.1) need modifications to migrate to the UWP.[3][4]
While UWP apps may not run on Android or iOS, during the 2015 Build keynote, Microsoft announced a collection of UWP "bridges" to allow Android and iOS software to be ported to the Windows 10 Mobile.[5] Windows Bridge for Android consists of a runtime environment (codenamed "Astoria") that allows for Android apps written in Java or C++ to be ported to Windows 10 Mobile and published to the Windows Store. Kevin Gallo, technical lead of Windows Developer Platform, explained that the layer contains some limitations: Google Mobile Services and certain core APIs will not be available, and apps that have "deep integration into background tasks", such as messaging software, may not run well in this environment.[6][7] Windows Bridge for iOS (codenamed "Islandwood") is an open source middleware toolkit that allows iOS software developed in Objective-C to be ported to Windows 10 Mobile by using Visual Studio 2015 to convert the Xcode project into a Visual Studio project.[5][8][9] An early build of Windows Bridge for iOS was released as open source software under the MIT license on 6 August 2015, while the Android version is in closed beta.[5]
Deployment
The UWP is an extension of the Windows Runtime. Universal Windows apps that are created using the UWP no longer indicate having been written for a specific OS in their manifest build; instead, they target one or more device families, such as a PC, smartphone, tablet, or Xbox One, using Universal Windows Platform Bridges. These extensions allow the app to automatically utilize the capabilities that are available to the particular device it is currently running on.[10] A universal app may run on either a mobile phone or a tablet and provide suitable experiences between the two. A universal app running on a mobile phone may start behaving the way it would if it were running on a tablet when the mobile phone is connected to a desktop computer or a suitable docking station.[11]
References
- ↑ "What's a Universal Windows app?". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Introduction to Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps for designers". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Migrate apps to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP)". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
- ↑ "Move from Windows Runtime 8.x to UWP". Windows Developer Center. Microsoft. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Hachman, Mark (August 6, 2015). "Microsoft releases iOS-to-Windows app maker Windows Bridge to open source". PC World. IDG. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ Branscombe, Mary (May 11, 2015). "How will Android support work in Windows 10 for Phones?". TechRadar. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ Bright, Peter (April 29, 2015). "Microsoft brings Android, iOS apps to Windows 10". Ars Technica. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ Chester, Brandon (April 29, 2015). "Microsoft Demonstrates Android and iOS Applications Running On Windows 10". Anandtech. Purch Inc. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ Protalinski, Emil (May 1, 2015). "Everything you need to know about porting Android and iOS apps to Windows 10". VentureBeat. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ Domingo, Michael (May 1, 2015). "Inside the Universal Windows Platform Bridges". Visual Studio Magazine. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Guide to Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps". Windows Developers Center. Microsoft. Retrieved October 9, 2015.