Proper XAML for Windows 8 Applications [closed]

Question

I have been wanting to understand more of proper XAML design since most of my current experience is in what I grew up in: Windows Forms. More specifically, though it is really a specific subset of Xaml, I am interested in Windows 8 Application development.

I do have read considerable parts of 70-502 exam book by Microsoft and of course I have visited the Microsoft site to learn how many pixels what where and how is supposed to go to meet Windows 8 design guidelines.

All these resources however focus on very small scale problems. How to make a button, how to connect it to a controller...

I am looking for resources that teach me how to translate a design into xaml. All the individual components I am aware of, though not indepth. DockPanels, StackPanels, buttons, boxes, borders and styles. But I don't have a resource that tells me how to combine them into a high quality design.

Does anyone have resources that teach weilding Xaml on an application scale?

Answer 1

First things first, according to you, Windows Forms is ancient. And so? Do you need the power of XAML in order to achieve something you cannot or can hardly do in Windows Forms? If not, then stick with the technology you know. Don't abandon something just because it was invented years ago. Windows Forms is still actively used and fits perfectly well many cases.

Now, where you can find the resources to learn XAML?

• MSDN has enough documentation about XAML, including the best practices.
• If you have a precise technical question, not answered by MSDN, Stack Overflow is here.
• If you want to be sure that you follow best practices, CodeReview.SE is another valuable resource.
• Finally, there are books and code written by experienced developers; don't forget those two types of resources.

Answer 2

If you're going to do any XAML based development (WPF/Silverlight/Windows 8/Windows Phone), you need to use a design pattern such as MVVM. This will enforce separation of the visual and code layers, and allow use of the best features of the XAML platform - data binding and commands.

There are a number of MVVM frameworks - e.g.Prism, Caliburn Micro, MVVM-Light - it depends how much you want the framework to impose on the structure and look of your application. Personally, I find that MVVM-Light offers just enough without taking over the entire application.

Answer 3

There are a lot of guides out there on the web thus far on how to develop XAML applications for WinRT.

1. Here is how to develop components for WinRT with XAML
2. Here is how to develop Windows Store apps with XAML
3. Here is documentation from Microsoft on developing for Windows 8 using all technologies they provide
4. Here you can find UI patterns for XAML applications. Notice this is for classic desktop XAML applications. In windows 8 the UI is a bit more presentation like and a lot less data intensive. Windows 8 style UI implements a lot more large charts and boxes presenting data a lot more visually with charts and graphs rather than with numbers and data items displayed in grids. Just have that in mind.