C++ apps and Windows Apps - A Comparison

If one is coming from the background of Windows desktop programming in C++, we will probably find that some aspects of Windows Store App and Windows Phone app programming are familiar, but other aspects require some learning. 

Whats same? 

- We can use STL, the CRT (with some exceptions) and any other C++ library as long as the code does not attempt to call windows functions that are not accessible from the Windows Runtime Environment 

- If one is accustomed to visual designers, we can still use the designer built into Microsoft Visual studio or we can use more full featured Blend for Visual Studio. IF accustomed to code by Hand, then can use XAML. 

- One will be still developing apps for windows operating system types and own custom types. 

- One will be still using profile debugger VS debugger and other tools 

- One will be still creating apps that are compiled to run on native machine code by the windows runtime. C++ apps don’t run in managed environement

Then Whats new in Windows App development? 

- The design principles of Windows Apps and Windows Phone apps are entirely different. Windows borders, labels, dialog boxes are de-emphasized. 

- The separation between UI and core program is much clearer in Windows Universal app than in Win32 or MFC app. Developer will be using XAML to define the entire UI

- Developer will be programming against a new, easy to navigate object oriented API, the windows Runtime, although on Windows devices Win32 is still available for some functionality

- One will use C++/CX to consume and create Windows Runtime Objects. C++/CX enables C++ exception handling, delegate events and Automatic reference count of dynamically creating objects. When we use C++/CX, the details of the underlying COM and Windows architecture are hidden from the app code. 

- When an app is compiled into a package, that also contains meta data about the types that the app contains, the resource that it uses and the capabilities that it require (file access, internet access, camera access etc) 

- In the windows store and Windows Phone Store, the app is verified by a certification process and made discoverable to millions of potential customers. 

References:  

https://dev.windows.com/en-us/getstarted