As compared to android, does it cost money to develop for windows 8? [closed]

Question

I have been reading a number of blogs on the subject. But now I am left with a number of sometimes contradictory information. I hope this community can present me the truth on the matter.

WHAT I HAVE:

I own a mac osx mountain lion. I also own a pc, which I bought in November 2008, that's running both Windows Vista and Ubuntu.

COMPARISON:

If I decide to develop for android right now, I can get everything I need for free:

• I can get the IDE (eclipse) for free

• I can get the android sdk for free

• I can get the emulators for free

• I only have to pay a $25 lifetime fee if I decide to publish on the Google Play Store

• No computer to buy; no OS to buy; no IDE to buy; nothing to buy.

Can someone please tell me: Is it the same for windows 8 development? With my existing computers, would it be cost free to develop for windows 8? If not, what do I need to buy. Please no iffy info, I am looking for decisive information. One blog, for example, talks about a 30 day free-trial of the Windows 8 OS: This is clearly not free now is it?

Also is developing for windows phone the same as developing for windows 8? Some blogs treat the two as equivalent. What's the reality?

• A: All windows phone apps work on windows 8?

• B: All windows 8 apps work on windows phone?

• C: Both A and B

How about windows 7? Is there a relationship there with windows phones?

Note: I understand the details may make this seem like a number of questions in one; but I had to include the details. The question, however, is one: does it cost money to develop for windows based on the criteria I present?

Answer 1

To develop Windows Store/Modern UI applications for Windows 8 you need a computer running the Windows 8 OS.

For Windows Phone 8 development you specifically need Windows 8 Professional 64-bit.

Windows 8 is not free, but there is a 90-day evaluation for developers that you can download free. Since you have a Vista license you should also be able to upgrade that to Windows 8, but again that is not free (just as OSX upgrades are not, IIRC).

Visual Studio Express versions are FREE and available for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone development (they are different platforms, but with some overlap in terms of code reuse).

To publish to the Windows Store (Windows 8 apps) there is a $49 annual account fee. For the Windows Phone Store, it's a separate account that has a $99 annual fee.

• If you are a student and join DreamSpark, both of these fees are waived.
• If you are a MSDN subscriber, likewise these fees are waived.
• An MSDN subscription is part of the BizSpark program for startups as well, so if you qualify there, you would get free store accounts as well as access to Windows 8.

With Windows 7 you would only be able to develop applications for the Windows Phone 7 platform, so given the setup you've described there's no advantage in going to 7 versus 8. When you build Windows Phone applications with Windows 8 development tools you will still be able to target Windows Phone 7 devices in addition to the newer Windows Phone 8 devices.

Do keep in mind that Microsoft is always running promotions and incentives in various markets (in the US, for instance, there is the Keep the Cash program where you can get $100 for up to 10 apps you publish in the Windows Store, and another $1000 for Windows Phone applications, - more than offsetting costs to get up and running)!

Likewise, there are Microsoft audience evangelists across the world whose role it is to help you get started and be a successful app publisher on the platform. Do reach out to your local rep as he or she may can provide additional guidance and make you aware of offers/incentives that may help you to get started. If you don't know how to reach him or her, please send me a note via my profile and I will connect you.