Why is there no Windows Phone version of Visual Studio Express 2013? - windows-phone

I'm planning a side project with some colleagues but not everyone has licenses. We were thinking of releasing an app for both Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Phone 8 platforms. I don't have a lot of experience working with Express versions, but for some reason Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Phone seems to not exist on their site, but without any explanation. I'm wondering if anyone knows if Windows Phone development:
exists normally in 2013, and the marketing page is simply botched?
can not be done at all in Visual Studio Express 2013?
can be done in Visual Studio 2013 Express for Windows, after installing a Windows Phone SDK?
can be done without an MSDN License only in Visual Studio Express 2012?

Windows Phone 8.1 development tools are now available from Visual Studio 2013 Update 2 or later. As of Nov 2014 we are now at Update 4.
You can install the full VS Express 2013 for Windows with Update 4 from here: http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/
(Make sure you pick VS Express 2013 for Windows and not VS Express 2013 for Windows Desktop)
If you already have the RTM version of Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows installed, you can install just Update 4 from here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=390465

I am pretty sure it has something to do with Windows Phone 8.1 (or whatever they will call it) not yet been released.
VS 2013 is all about Windows 8.1 so by now you can develop in VS 2013 for Windows Store (Windows 8.1 and Windows 8), Windows Desktop (Windows 8.1 and previous) and for Web.
As for Windows Phone, as we are still on WP8, there is no 2013 Express version for it (yet). We will probably see a new 2013 version of VS Express for Windows Phone when WP 8.1 is out.
That is what i think.

I was confused by the same thing. I have upgraded to Visual Studio 2013 for Windows 8, Windows 8 Desktop and Web development - but windows phone 8 development is currently still in Visual Studio Express 2012. I'm assuming that it will be brought into line soon.

In Visual Studio 2013 Update 3 there is the option of building both Windows Phone 8 apps, Windows 8 apps as well as Universal Apps. Also the latest update support the Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 development. By default they start as 8.1 supported projects. There is a option to build and Blank App (Windows Phone Silverlight) app template where you can select the target OS version whether is is Windows Phone 8 or Windows Phone 8.1

Related

Building Windows 8 store apps in Visual Studio 2015

I recently migrated from Windows 8 / VS2013 to Windows 10 / VS2015. After doing so I can no longer build Windows 8 store apps - I'm forced to upgrade to Windows 8.1 if I want to build the project.
However, I maintain two builds of my app - one for Windows 8 and one for 8.1. I have a number of customers who refuse to update to 8.1 (No, I have no idea why) and I don't want to leave them with an outdated version. I've already upgraded the project to 8.1 and keep that separate.
Is there any way to build a Windows 8.0 app in Visual Studio 2015, without the forced upgrade?
Visual Studio 2015 does not support building Windows 8 Store apps. As you indicated it will only migrate them to 8.1. You must use VS2013 to maintain Windows 8 Store apps and you can only use VS 2012 to create any new ones.
This is covered in the Visual Studio 2015 compatibility support page.
https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/visual-studio-2015-compatibility-vs.aspx

Develop a windows store app for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

is it possible to develop an app for windows 8 and it will run on windows 8.1 normally? what about the validation in the store? and its visibility in the store for users who have windows 8.1 on their pcs?
why visual studio 2013 professional version is supported by windows 8 and not visual studio 2013 express edition for windows?
if we developp a library in windows phone 8, could we reuse it in Windows 8.1 application? (specifically its validation in the store?)
thx for ur answers
Will a Win8 app run on Win8.1?
Check this question here on SO: Migration Windows Store App based on 8.1. does it has backward compatibility with 8?
Basically, the answer is YES. But not the other way around. Windows 8.1 apps will not work on Windows 8. So the visibility in the store depends on the targeted version of the app and the version that is running. Win 8.1 users will see both and Win 8 users only see Win 8 apps.
VS2013 Express on Windows 8.1 only?
Depends on the type of VS you want. Check the Visual Studio Express page and decide which version you want. For example Express 2013 for Windows will only work on Windows 8.1, while Express 2013 for Windows Desktop will also work on Windows 8.
Windows Phone 8 to Windows 8?
Channel9 Always had interesting posts about development and for this case too. Check the page Building Apps for Both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 Jump Start for more information about developing for both platforms.
Hope this helps! :)

Do I need VS 2012 Express for Windows 8 Apps if I have VS 2012 Professional?

Every page I seem to point to while trying to learn how to develop Win8 apps (such as this MS Page) points me to a download package that includes "Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8."
However, I already have VS 2012 Pro.
Do I still need to obtain VS 2012 Express for Windows 8 for some reason, or is there an alternate path I can take to continue to use my existing VS 2012 in order to build Windows 8 apps?
No.
Visual Studio 2012 Express Edition for Windows 8 can create and edit Windows Store projects. Those same projects can be opened and edited in Visual Studio 2012 Pro and Ultimate. However, Visual Studio 2012 Pro and Ultimate can create other types of projects (like Windows Phone, WCP, WPF) that cannot be opened by VS 2012 Express Edition because Express for Windows 8 Apps is intentionally limited to only build Windows 8 apps.
The answer to your question is no, you do not need Express if you have Pro. Pro is the superset of the Express editions. Other Express editions include Windows Phone, Web, and Windows Apps. They are the free edition of Visual Studio, and for that reason alone they are limited in features.
Express is the cut-down edition of VS and as such it is less capable than the Pro edition. So, you should stick to VS 2012 Pro which is more than capable of developing Windows 8 apps.

Windows 8 App Add-on to visual studio 2012 for desktop

The title pretty much says it all. I've downloaded Visual Studio 2012 Express for Desktop but I also want to be able to develop apps for Windows 8.
Rather than having to download another version of Visual studio (Visual Studio 2012 for Windows 8). Isn't there just a way to add add-ons on my current VS to enable developing for Windows 8?
Thanks in advance!
PS - If there's an add-on to develop for Windows PHONE 8 that will also be greatly appreciated!
If you want to develop windows 8 phone, you still can use VS 2012 express, but you must install windows 8 phone SDK, you can download it here http://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/downloadsdk.
But if you want to develop desktop app with VS 2012 Express, Unfortunately you can't, but IMHO you can still use csharp compiler in command line to do that. but you must references all the library you use in your app. to be honest I never try it, CMIIW.
Cheer
Yusak Setiawan
http://apptivate.ms/apps/1271/mathboard

Windows Phone 8 SDK running in Visual Studio 2010

I know that the SDK is not finished, yet a few lucky developers have got their hands on it already, so here's my question: when you installing Windows Phone 8 SDK, did it install the SDK in Visual Studio 2010 also, or just on the 2012 edition (including 2012 Express)?
After posting my question, two different developers that had access to the SDK contacted me directly stating that there is no integration of the Windows Phone 8 SDK in Visual Studio 2010, just on the 2012 version.
No, You need Visual Studio 2012, Windows 8 Pro or Enterprise x64 + processor supporting SLAT for running Hyper-V.
You can now download the WP8 SDK here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35471