Could you tell us a bit about your experience with Windows 8 and developing for Windows 8?
My experience with Windows 8 has been amazing! Ever since I started using the Developer’s Preview I fell in love with it. I started developing from void and today here I’m with three successful app at windows store. One thing making me stick with the store is the Windows SDK. For a developer an SDK means the blessing from heaven. It helps a developer to develop anything he wants, yet it leaves a challenge for him to take his best out to face the ambiguous troubles. And I feel like exposure to these kind of troubles make us even stronger.
What inspired you to start developing? What age were you when you started?
After seeing the tremendously awesome user interface of Windows 8 I started feel like “Yes, I am gonna do this.” I was newbie to the language Visual C#. After following several MSDN Blogs I came to install Microsoft Visual Studio Express Edition. It was the beginning of my windows 8 career.
Could you tell us about the apps that you have built?
I’ve written some Facebook and Android apps but was not successful so I concentrated on website designing. But Windows 8 really changed my working platform. My apps are:
· Play Me: It’s my first Windows 8 application. It is a media player which supports wide range of media. I concentrated on coding much than giving importance to UI. After a round of late nights I eventually made my app. And I realized a universal fact on that day: There’s nothing else in world that will make a developer so happy than seeing a pass certification mail for his first app.
· Tom Drum: I made this one for fun. Ever since I started using touch supported devices, I used virtual instrument applications. So I decided to make one. This is a simple virtual drum application supports both keyboard and touch gestures.
· Fox Player: After my experience with Play Me I started concentrating more on UI. I took a day for coding and about 3 weeks for graphics properties. And now seeing the app at store in a successful position I really feel proud.
Anything that you have had to overcome while developing? Did you ever hit a bump, what/how did you learn from it?
If you give a glance to the Visual Studio express everything you see is a bump. But when we stare more, things get more obvious that every component is related to one another in some way. The challenge I faced was adding graphics properties and UI elements. Almost all the required properties are pre-defined in Visual Studio but for an app we’ll have to provide more. To overcome these issues, starting work from Windows SDK is a good practice. Also have a fair contact with several developer forums.
Any advice you have for students?
- You don’t need to be smart, bright or the hulk in programming. All you just need to have some ideas that you think you can implement and a list of good contacts. The more you get to communicate with others you will get to know more about what all others want and will get a brief concept about current market trend. So always try to develop good communication skills and never put an age barrier in making contacts.
- Before you start developing anything, never go and switch your pc on and code something in random. Which means, first create a clear image of your app in mind? About all the components, how it should work, dream like you’re a user of that application. And some people will say working late night will bring a huge development in your carrier.
- In the final phase of development, never waste the time in hardcore coding, Because MSDN provides sample SDKs to work with, which will indeed help to manage our time and makes our development ever more simpler. For those who like to refer video tutorials the best source is Channel9 and I’ve also provided some quick start video tutorials on my YouTube channel.
(Please visit the site to view this video)
How can students get in touch with you?
I’m also interested in keeping in contact. People can find me on Facebook or Twitter. Feel free to contact with any questions about beginning Windows Store app development and any other queries related to it. Also be sure to check out my apps Play Me, Fox Player & Tom Drum
Before winding up I’d like to say one thing:
”Follow your heart, chase your dreams and always do what your mind says to do.”