Just released Prism for the Windows Runtime on Windows 8.1

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We are pleased to announce that we just released Prism for Windows 8.1. Prism helps developers who want to create a Windows Store business app using C#, XAML, the Windows Runtime, and development patterns such as Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) and event aggregation. Prism includes two libraries, a reference implementation called AdventureWorks Shopper, Quickstarts and associated documentation.

This is an update from the version released in May for Windows 8.

The guidance demonstrates:

What’s new in the Windows 8.1 version

Documentation

  • Created a developer task topic to help developers learn how to complete key Windows Store dev tasks for validation, creating pages, navigation, touch, tiles, search, performance, testing, deployment, extended splash screen, incremental loading, Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM),  loosely coupled communication, and using the Prism libraries.
  • Added the AdventureWorks Shopper logical architecture to help you understand what code you need to write for a Windows Store app vs the code the Prism library provides.
  • Updated PDF for Windows 8.1.
  • Provided release notes on CodePlex including a change log and late breaking news.

AdventureWorks Shopper Reference Implementation

  • Created AutoRotatingGridView grid control to create a fluid page layout that responds to user requests to change the pages size and orientation
  • Demonstrated using the IncrementalUpdateBehavior Blend Behavior for large data to improve user perceived performance
  • Cleaned up styles
  • Used Flyout/MenuFlyout instead of popup
  • Changed FlyoutViews to use SettingsFlyout
  • Used out of the box control for Watermark
  • Used Blend Behaviors
  • Used SearchBox & new search APIs
  • Updated top/bottom app bars to use CommandBars and Action Buttons
  • Used Windows.Web.Http.HttpClient instead of System.Net.Http.HttpClient

   

Prism for Windows Runtime

  • Updated VisualStateAwarePage to detect page size and orientation
  • Removed FlyoutService and FlyoutView
  • Removed SearchPaneService and SearchQueryArguments. Used new SearchBox control instead.
  • Added support for an extended splashscreen

Quickstarts

  • Created Incremental Loading Quickstart to demonstrate how to improve end user perceived performance for a large grid by handling the ContainerContentChanging event, or by using the IncrementalUpdateBehavior Blend Behavior vs traditional data binding.
  • Created Extended Splash Screen Quickstart to demonstrate how to use the Prism library to create an extended splash screen.

Where to get it?

  • Documentation on the Windows Development Center.
  • PDF version of the documentation will be available later this month.
  • Source code for AdventureWorks Shopper reference implementation and the Prism libraries.
  • Source code for the associated quickstarts.
  • Via NuGet – use NuGet package Manager in Visual Studio and search online for Prism.StoreApps and Prism.PubSubEvents

If you need the source code for the AdventureWorks Shopper reference implementation and the Prism library that runs on Windows 8 we moved it to our CodePlex site.

Where to start?

  • Review the AdventureWorks reference implementation. After you download the code, see Getting started with Prism library for instructions on how to compile and run the reference implementation, as well as understand the Visual Studio solution structure.
  • Review Quickstarts. The Quickstart samples focus on specific tasks such as validation, event aggregation, bootstrapping an MVVM app, and adding an extended splash screen to your app.
  • Create an app. If you want to create your own app using Prism see Using Prism for the Windows Runtime.
  • Explore developer tasks . Learn how the Prism team implemented many of the tasks required to create a Windows Store app.
  • Review the documentation. The associated documentation outlines the key decisions and lessons learned to create a Windows Store business app.
  • Review the release notes. The release notes provide late breaking updates and a more detailed log of the changes in this release.

 

What code do I write and what does Prism library provide?

We included the AdventureWorks logical architecture in the documentation to help you understand what code is provided by the Prism library and what code you will need to create for your Windows Store business app.

 

Logical architecture of a Windows Store business app that uses Prism

Community

Prism for the Windows Runtime has a  community site you can post questions, provide feedback, connect with other users to share ideas, and find additional content such as extensions and training material. Community members can also help Microsoft plan and test future releases of Prism for the Windows Runtime. For more info see patterns & practices: Prism for the Windows Runtime.

So go download the code and get started creating your Windows Store app with Prism. We want to hear about your successes and challenges on our CodePlex site. What else do we need to add to the library and associated documentation? Many of the additions to this release came from user feedback from the CodePlex site.