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What is the recommended approach for building line of business apps for Windows 8? e.g. complex bespoke finance application
They clearly don't fit into the Metro style so presumably will be a regular desktop app
So is the recommendation to use WPF? Is there a vNext for this?
The type of apps I build as a developer are desktop style apps. They are not ones that would fit into the Metro style. We haven't heard much from \Build about this style of app.
So if you were going to launch a desktop app to coincide with the release of Windows 8 - what would be the prefered use of technology. (I get the impression WPF is on the way out)
Is there anything in Win RT that can be leveraged?
thanks a lot
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Line of business applications are software applications which are used to facilitate the unique requirements of a team, department, company, or industry. In contrast to productivity applications, such as spreadsheets, which are common to most organisations, LOB applications are specific to the needs of a smaller group.
The Windows Store is where you'll download new apps for your Windows 8 device, much like the App Store for Apple devices. Most apps are designed to run from the Start screen. In this lesson, you'll learn how to browse the store, download and install apps, and update apps when necessary.
Your company or school can make line-of-business (LOB) applications available through Microsoft Store for Business or Microsoft Store for Education. These apps are custom to your school or organization – they might be internal apps, or apps specific to your school, business, or industry.
WinRT is for building Metro-style apps. If the app you're building doesn't fit the Metro style, then just build it as a traditional desktop application. Not all applications will fit the Metro style, and they don't have to.
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Well, this is a bit old question now, but since situation is more clear nowadays (after release of Windows 8 and its tablet version - Windows RT with some new hardware by Microsoft) you may reconsider targeting WinRT instead of WPF for your new projects. This will allow your apps to run on tablets with Windows RT OS in addition to work on desktop in "Metro mode" and in the observable future (taking into account MS plans for unifying development for desktop and mobile by targeting project to WinRT) this also could simplify porting part of main desktop functionality of your financial app to its mobile counterpart version running on Windows Phone and allowing the user to do something useful even when they are on the go.
As for how much complex financial application could fit into "Metro" design and concept - you should have a look into several existing financial application in the Windows Store and compare their complexity with your possible requirements.
Another way to determine if WinRT will suites your desktop app is thinking about how complex will be breaking all functionality of your app into multiple relatively separated screens with input elements large enough for touch input by fingers - if that's looks doable, then you probable should go with WinRT.
But if the application is expected to show a large number of different tables simultaneously or, for example, should collect a lot of typed information by user (i.e. long descriptions, rich text formatting, lots of fields to fill etc.) then it probably will be usable in desktop mode only with hardware keyboard and large screen in front of user (i.e. on tablets/mobile it will be just painful for user to do all those things). In that case the WPF will suites just fine.
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