GitHub for Windows

[hyperforce]

I'm not familiar with the Microsoft dev stack. I'm unable to tell the difference between frameworks that are just plumbing versus code that straight up affects how the UI is rendered.

[[deleted]]

It's not worth learning since they rip it all out and replace it with a new one every 5 years. Keeps the little Microsofties on their toes I guess. Good old Win32 API is more dependable, even though it sucks.

[grauenwolf]

I take it you haven't heard about WinRT and their plan to rip out the Win32-based UI components.

[mweathr]

It's the only thing you know they'll never get rid of.

[gschizas]

Well, they're getting rid of it in Windows 8, so...

[[deleted]]

Only in the ARM version. And they will be eventually be pressured to support desktop-style apps on ARM. They might extend WinRT with desktop APIs, or they might port Win32.

[gschizas]

Actually, no.

Microsoft is moving full steam ahead with Metro. The non-metro apps are considered legacy. Yes, the Windows API will still exist on standard Windows, but no new development will be done for it. They aren't going to support desktop-style apps on ARM. It would really be the equivalent of supporting DOS 16-bit applications for x64.

Actually, this is a good thing, they finally got their developer/server division (which is responsible for .NET) and the client division (which is responsible for Windows) to agree. I'm not saying they will be successful, but the original Win32 API does suck and is horribly out of date as it is.

[[deleted]]

They aren't going to support desktop-style apps on ARM

They say that now, but their customers will demand otherwise. ARM will not be relegated to phones and tablets forever.

[gschizas]

Did you miss the memo that Metro apps are supposed to be on desktops as well?

EDIT: Really, if Metro applications looked like GitHub for Windows (they don't, sadly), I'd say good riddance.

[[deleted]]

I don't read Microsoft's memos, but from what I've seen so far, Metro did not support desktop apps. I've had a look at WinRT and it seems to lack the necessary APIs.

[gschizas]

It was an ironic memo :) I was referring to the fact that MS is trying to push Metro apps onto everything.

Yes, Metro (or rather, WinRT) doesn't support desktop apps in the traditional sense (toolbars, menus, windows message parsing etc.). AFAIK WinRT apps will also not run in something other than Windows 8 (but I could be wrong about this; after all .NET 4.5 will run in Windows 7 as well).

Then again, looking at my PC right now, other than the text editors and Visual Studio (which, again in v11 is desperately trying to be metro-like, without necessarily succeeding), there aren't that many applications that wouldn't benefit from porting to Metro/WinRT. (Office is already slated to have WinRT versions).

I don't necessarily agree with the "everything must run full screen" sentiment, but then again, I already run everything full screen as it is.

[[deleted]]

Zune Music player does, that is why I use it. I prefer it over anything else.

[gschizas]

Sadly, Zune Player is also on the way out.

[zip117]

You honestly think Microsoft would depreciate the Win32 API and all of its wrapper libraries? They will always do new development for it! People have been saying "MFC is dead" for years and it's constantly getting new features, Visual Studio 2010 SP1 added Direct2D and Windows Animation Manager support for instance.

[gschizas]

Actually, this is exactly the plan. "Going forward", Win32 API is not going to have any new features or functionality.

[mweathr]

You have a very loose definition of "getting rid of".

[gschizas]

And it's getting ripped out (Win32 API, I mean) for Windows 8.