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Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

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Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#11

Post by throwawaywindev »

SigmundA wrote: post #10
chongli wrote: post #5

Is it just me, or does Microsoft create a whole new Windows API with every release? How are people supposed to build anything without a stable API? No wonder everyone has switched to Electron.

They just can't seem to settle on a UI framework. They have like 5 at this point. They really need to just figure out how you make a GUI app on windows. I want to make a GUI app in the same framework the Office team uses, if its good enough for them then good enough for me, see "eating your own dog food".

Coincidentally office is adopting more and more UWP controls in their Win32 app using these publicly available interop technologies.

Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#13

Post by zaat »

I'll be really happy if UWP will die. I don't care for the visual side it offers at all, and the UX is simply terrible compared to the good old Win32.

Maybe I'm missing something, but the feeling I got regarding UWP is that it is an effort to unify the UX across all platforms and devices by aiming to lowest common denominator of all platforms. It meant that simple and useful utility like calc became a visually bloated app with sluggish UX. It meant every app takes double the screen size and offers half the functionality. In short, it made useful computer programs into passable mobile apps.

Isn't it obvious that mobile apps UI/UX is poor and is only acceptable as a compromise due to form factor limitations?

Did the strategy folks at Microsoft thought sacrificing the desktop will get them the mobile?

Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#14

Post by dqybh »

PaulHoule wrote: post #4
milsorgen wrote: post #2

I hope they keep chipping away at the Store. It's a nice additional stream of apps that while lacking in curation provides an easy route for novice users to get something or even just browse. They need either a higher bar for quality or much more vast curated content for users to explore. Same with UWP, I hope they don't kill it off. It's a good entry point for some- though I'm sure more adept programmers would have…

There is too much crap in the store, they need to get it out. To distribute software the normal way you need to at least be able to register a domain name and run a web site and it seems the bottom 20% of app developers can't do that.

Nope. Github Pages + releases disagree. I know of many applications that are distributed that way. Hexchat for example.

Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#15

Post by frozenport »

SigmundA wrote: post #10
chongli wrote: post #5

Is it just me, or does Microsoft create a whole new Windows API with every release? How are people supposed to build anything without a stable API? No wonder everyone has switched to Electron.

They just can't seem to settle on a UI framework. They have like 5 at this point. They really need to just figure out how you make a GUI app on windows. I want to make a GUI app in the same framework the Office team uses, if its good enough for them then good enough for me, see "eating your own dog food".

This perception is due to the comparable longevity of the Windows ecosystem. Rate of change is the same as Android, or Apple's products. They just they keep the old ones around, and have twice the history.

Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#16

Post by morpheuskafka »

Another issue is the lack of documentation. For example, the VPN API has zero documentation (it has the functions but not what they do or any sort of app notes) and you have to apply to MS for permission to use it. So most apps still use the massive, outdated WinTAP adapter.

Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#17

Post by zaat »

throwawaywindev wrote: post #11
SigmundA wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They just can't seem to settle on a UI framework. They have like 5 at this point. They really need to just figure out how you make a GUI app on windows. I want to make a GUI app in the same framework the Office team uses, if its good enough for them then good enough for me, see "eating your own dog food".

Coincidentally office is adopting more and more UWP controls in their Win32 app using these publicly available interop technologies.

That, as well as their new icons, the applications icons and even more so the icons inside the applications is terrible in my eyes. It feels like when your side lose the elections, the future is gloomy because of wrong decisions someone else took and you have zero control over it, while they have so much effect on you.

Re: Microsoft Confirms UWP Is Not the Future of Windows Apps

#18

Post by hermitdev »

throwawaywindev wrote: post #11
SigmundA wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They just can't seem to settle on a UI framework. They have like 5 at this point. They really need to just figure out how you make a GUI app on windows. I want to make a GUI app in the same framework the Office team uses, if its good enough for them then good enough for me, see "eating your own dog food".

Coincidentally office is adopting more and more UWP controls in their Win32 app using these publicly available interop technologies.

Unfortunately, the public APIs for the ribbon interface are broken to an extent. I havent checked recently, but as an add-on, it was impossible to get 2 excel windows to display different values in a textbox embedded in a ribbon for 2 sheets openned in the same excel process.

Despite the appearance of being separate processes because of separate windows, excel is basically a detached MDI interface where each sheet gets its own window, but same process. I think the other Office products are the same (but I'm not sure). I dont know how many hours I wasted at a previous employer trying to figure out what was wrong, but finally gave up after many frustrating hours.

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