Download Windows Azure toolkit and develop metro apps for Windows 8

Posted Date: 16-Sep-2011	Category: Windows 8	Rating:
Author: Tony John	Member Level: Diamond	Points: 75

Are you a Windows Azure developer? In this post I will discuss the latest updates on Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8 and how to develop cool metro style apps using Windows Azure toolkit.

Microsoft has been busy last couple of years to bring us something good bundled in the Windows 8 box. Keep aside all the rumors and speculations. Windows 8 is has seen the light of the day and is ready to hit the hard roads. There is a lot to see, try and experience in Windows 8. In this post, I will focus on the Windows Azure related changes and updates in the Windows 8.

In the BUILD conference this week, Microsoft announced Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8.

What is Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8

Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8 is a set of tools that help you develop rich Metro style applications for Windows 8 to take advantage of the Windows Azure services. Now you can write cool and intuitive applications for Windows 8, without having to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to make it fun to use. Rather, you can focus on the business aspect of the application. The Azure toolkit for Windows 8 will provide everything needed for developers to develop really cool Windows 8 metro apps.

What is included in the Toolkit

The Azure toolkit comes with several tools and components to help you get started quickly with Windows 8 Metro style app development for Azure services. Some of the components of Azure toolkit for Windows 8 are:

Sample applications

Documentaion

Best practices for Azure development

Sample applications

Tools for Visual Studio

Visual Studio templates for Azure project for Metro Apps

Reusable code snippets, libraries and components for Azure app development

Software requirements for Windows 8 Toolkit for Windows 8

In order to use the Windows Azure toolkit for Windows 8 and start using it to develop metro style Windows 8 Apps, you must have the following software requirements:

Languages and technologies supported by Azure toolkit for Windows 8

The following languages are supported by Windows Azure toolkit for Windows 8, giving a lot of flexibility for Windows/.NET programmers to choose the platform of their choice:

1. C#
2. VN.NET
3. C++
4. HTML 5 and JavaScript

VS 2010 (Visual Web Developer 2010 Express will also work)

Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview or Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express (for Windows 8 developer preview build)

IIS 7

ASP.NET MVC 3 (both the runtime and the tools update for Visual Studio 2010)

Windows Azure SDK 1.4.1 Refresh

Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 v1.4 – August 2011

Windows Identity Foundation Runtime

SQL Server 2008 R2 Express (or higher)

IE 9 or other modern browsers

Where to download Windows 8 Azure toolkit for Windows 8

Windows Azure toolkit for Windows 8 is available for download at the codeplex website. You can find the download link here along with a lot of other information including the release notes, software requirements, and a lot more.

Post Comment:

Notify me by email when others post comments to this article.

Do not include your name, "with regards" etc in the comment. Write detailed comment, relevant to the topic.

No HTML formatting and links to other web sites are allowed.

This is a strictly moderated site. Absolutely no spam allowed.

Name:	Sign In to fill automatically.
Email:	(Will not be published, but required to validate comment)
	Type the numbers and letters shown on the left.