More apps, more stores, more money: Windows 11 is a win for developers

Windows 11 Start Laptop Razerbook Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

What y'all need to know

Windows 11 features a new Microsoft Store and new options for app evolution.
The Microsoft Store will allow developers with their ain commerce platforms to go along 100% of revenue.
Win32, UWP, PWA, and fifty-fifty Android apps will work on Windows 11.

Microsoft announced Windows 11 today, and while its new features are important, some of the biggest news isn't nigh what Microsoft made; it's about what developers volition make to run on the new operating organisation. Windows 11 has a new Microsoft Store (which will also come up to Windows 10), new developer options, and even back up for Android apps through the Amazon Store. All of these add together upwards to a platform that's intended to exist much more alluring to developers. Microsoft outlined the improvements and changes in a web log post.

More types of apps

Windows 11 Android App Store Source: Microsoft

Microsoft wants apps in the Microsoft Store, and it doesn't seem peculiarly bothered most what types of apps those are. Starting today, developers can use Win32, .NET, UWP, Xamarin, Electron, React Native, Coffee, and Progressive Web Apps packaging technology to get apps published in the Microsoft Shop. That means that many developers don't have to alter how their app works to get it into the shop.

With the surprise declaration of Android apps on Windows eleven through the Amazon Store, developers have even so another manner to get apps onto PCs. Windows 11 will be able to run Win32, UWP, PWA, and Android apps.

For years, many major Microsoft apps weren't in the Microsoft Store. That won't be the instance anymore, as Teams, Office, Border, Visual Studio are on the way to the Microsoft Store. Even Paint and Notepad will exist available through information technology.

Microsoft as well managed to become some major app makers on board already. Disney+, TikTok, Zoom, and the Adobe Creative Cloud will all be bachelor through the Microsoft Store.

More ways to detect apps

Microsoft Store Pop Up Source: Microsoft

The Microsoft Shop was redesigned from the ground upward with a new interface that has more than room to show off apps. Stories are on the way to the store likewise to highlight apps with editorial content. This should help with discoverability, which is a big reason to go an app onto the Microsoft Store.

For some developers, discoverability isn't an issue. Services similar Spotify and Netflix don't need the Microsoft Shop to go the discussion out about their apps. So here's how the Microsoft Shop engages those parties.

With Windows 11, people who find an app straight through a website will be able to employ a "popular-upward" store to download the app through the Microsoft Store. For example, when people become to Spotify'due south website and click on the Microsoft Store download bluecoat, a window from the Microsoft Store volition pop upwards that lets people install the app.

With support for Android apps through the Amazon Store, people volition be able to search for apps through the Microsoft Store and acquire them through the Amazon Store.

Notably, Amazon apps do not support Google Play, simply the long-term program is to get more than Android stores into the Microsoft Shop. Every bit explained by our executive editor Daniel Rubino, "That could mean Samsung and fifty-fifty Google Play down the road as Amazon alone is not the stop goal."

More money

Windows 11 Store New Adobe Source: Microsoft

Microsoft could roll out all of the app-related features in the world, but it wouldn't matter much if using the Microsoft Store wasn't profitable for developers. Some developers have avoided the Microsoft Store because they didn't desire to give up any acquirement. The thought process being, why requite away any percent of acquirement when people tin just grab an app from a website?

That shouldn't be an event anymore, as developers can go along 100% of their revenue on Windows eleven if they have their ain commerce platform. The change ways that companies like Adobe can have the Adobe Creative Suite in the Microsoft Store.

The pick to utilize third-party commerce platforms volition be available starting July 28.

A smart play to win back devs

Windows 11 Start Surfacepro Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

In the past, Microsoft may have wanted all developers to fully embrace UWP and hop on over to the Microsoft Store. That never happened. But instead of remaining fixated on developers rejecting the Microsoft Shop and sure app technologies, Microsoft made a major shift when it comes to app development.

Opening the Microsoft Store to more types of apps and more packaging technologies is a bold move in the new direction. Supporting Android apps should aid make full some gaps and get some big-proper noun apps onto PCs. Allowing developers to keep 100% of their acquirement when they utilize their own commerce platform is a strategy that shows that Microsoft isn't penny wise and pound foolish. Information technology'due south finally recommitted to the Microsoft Store.

For the full scoop on what Windows 11 ways for developers exterior of all things Microsoft Store, cheque out Microsoft's blog postal service that details the Windows App SDK, simplified game development via a at present-publicly-available GDK, and much more than.

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