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What ever happened to programs? Was there something about that word that terribly offended people? Too hard to type out? Is 'app' soon going to be replaced by some kind of pictogram? Enquiring minds want to know.
As far as I know, that is the main difference: apps are sandboxed programs which you can easily install and deinstall without affecting the rest of the system.
Or...?
What ever happened to programs? Was there something about that word that terribly offended people? Too hard to type out? Is 'app' soon going to be replaced by some kind of pictogram? Enquiring minds want to know.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
You can distribute universal Windows apps outside the Windows Store.
If your customers check a setting called “side-loading” in "Updates & Security" under "For developers" with a fairly scary warning, then yes you can sell outside the Windows Store.
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You can distribute universal Windows apps outside the Windows Store.
You mean programs?
If they were distributed as .programx files instead of .appx files, maybe you'd have a point.
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Yes. Windows Shell, Xbox, Office, Skype, HoloLens, etc. are all using UWP.
Windows Explorer is not UWP. The Office version you get with Office 365 ("Desktop Office"), the one, businesses use, is certainly not UWP. Skype UWP is a preview announced a few days ago. "Are all using UWP"? No. They are in a transition of moving to UWP, but every serious business application is Win32.
What ever happened to programs? Was there something about that word that terribly offended people? Too hard to type out? Is 'app' soon going to be replaced by some kind of pictogram? Enquiring minds want to know.
You're decades late on this. "App" has been used as a shorthand way to refer to programs for a loooong time. Random example, Apple had an object oriented framework called MacApp in 1985.
What ever happened to programs? Was there something about that word that terribly offended people? Too hard to type out? Is 'app' soon going to be replaced by some kind of pictogram? Enquiring minds want to know.
There's an important distinction which often don't see discussed when this topic comes up: It can be very dangerous to install a program on your machine, but an 'app' comes with some assurance. People often think of the app store as a method for MS to grab your money, but in my opinion it fixes many of the installation/deployment problems that have existed on windows since... 95?
'Programs' typically require an MSI for installation. You'd better know, and trust, the MSI before you give it the required administrative privileges it needs to run, because a rogue MSI can absolutely own your machine.
On the other hand, 'Apps' declare what they are going to do to your machine via the manifest, so you kind of know what you are getting into before your install. The apps are sandboxed, so they have limited ability to tamper with your machine, and they can be uninstalled in a more uniform fashion.
In short, I feel much better telling my Grandma that she can install an 'App', but i'm much less confident telling her that it's ok to install a program via Installer.MSI.