Tamir DresherSenior Software ArchitectNov 26, 2013

Building Apps with common code for Windows 8 and WP8

About Me

• Software architect, consultant and instructor• Technology addict• .NET and Native Windows Programming• http://www.TamirDresher.com.

One step towards convergence - UX

• Tiles• Touch interface• AppBar • Navigation• Similar XAML

Controls

One step towards convergence - Code

• Common native API – DirectX, WinSock, CRT, STL and more • WinRT - Infrastructure, common type system, standard

programming model. Projected C#, VB, C++ and JavaScript• Shared .NET engine

Life is not perfect

• There are still parts that doesn’t exist in the other platform– System.Threading.Tasks.Parallel, PLINQ etc.– System.Collections.Concurrent namespace

• There are Things that exist but with differences– Dispatcher

• There are things that exist but just don’t work

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WinRT under different platforms

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/ff626516(v=vs.105).aspx

NetworkingProximityIn-App PurchaseSensorsLocationFile SystemCore app modelThreading

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Demo

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Common Code between platforms

• There are Basically 3 techniques– Link Files– Portable Class Library (PCL)– Dependency Injection

Add as Link

• Using the same file in multiple projects, without copying the file to each project.

• Shared 

• Not Shared 

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Add as Link

• Changes in one immediately reflects in the other• Compilation can change due to Conditionals

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Demo

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Add as Link – When To Use

• Application logic that is shared but is not portable – each platform has its nuance

• Code that is written in WinRT API. • User controls with no platform dependencies (NOT XAML)– You can use conditional compilation in your code-behind class

Portable Class Library (PCL)

• Portable Class Libraries support a subset of .NET assemblies that target the platforms you choose.

• One code -> one project -> one binary for all platforms• Unsupported in VS2012 Express edition

Portable Class Library (PCL)

• Supports managed code only• Doesn’t use conditional compilation related to platform• Doesn’t use WinRT API• Isn't relevant to UI constructs - XAML code isn’t portable

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Demo

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Portable Class Library – When To Use

• Shared Managed Code that deals with Logic• Code that doesn’t depends on specific platform API

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How To Deal with Non-Portable Code

• Using the Adapter Pattern

PCL

ISomeService

Win8WP8

ServiceAdapterWin8ServiceAdapterWP8

3rdPartyWP8 3rdPartyWin8

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Sharing UI Code

• Separate UI from app logic

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Summary

• Separate UI from app logic• Share your logic in PCL • Use Linked Files when necessary (WinRT)• Abstract your dependencies and use DI• We are on the path for convergence but there is still a long way

to go

Presenter contact detailsc: +972-52-4772946e: tamirdr@codevalue.netb: TamirDresher.comw: www.codevalue.net