Windows 8 Store certification for a Windows Desktop App written in Java

Question

I have a program that is written in Java and is wrapped by an installer. It requires Java 1.7. If I run the certification with "Windows App Certification" it passes with one warning for the case Java 1.7 is already installed. But if Java 1.7 is not installed the certification stops, as the installer will ask for the Java installation.

Does someone know if it is possible to add this Java app to the Windows store?

Unfortunately I haven't found any information on that. I could just go for the certification, but If Microsoft would not accept it, it would not be worth the effort.

After a view phone calls and emails it seems that even Microsoft itself seems not be able to answer this questions :-(

Answer 1

To be able to distribute for a Windows Desktop App you have to create an company account, which is quite a process.

Than you have to create that Desktop Dashboard account. There you have to sign a file from Microsoft with your certificate. But is has to be a specific certificate only from Verisign. This is ridiculous! I already have a valid certificate, why should I just for that freaking Windows Store buy a new certificate.

With all that I still don't know if Microsoft will be so kind to allow Desktop Apps written in Java. No wonder there are not many Apps in the Windows Store!

Answer 2

Have you tried to install a lower version of Java Engine lower than version 1.7? You may try to do that, and if need arises that you need to install the 1.7 for the certification to work, it will download it online if you are connected constantly to the internet during installation. Also, check if your Windows OS is not corrupt or compromised. Bad or errors in Windows registry do cause all these type of things, thereby not allowing the system to know that java 1.7 exists

Answer 3

in a mail Microsoft told me they do allow Java programs as Desktop apps.

"After a thorough investigation, we came up with the understanding that, you can publish java running apps as desktop apps only. You will need to sign up as a company in order to do so. The reason that you can publish java running apps as desktop apps is due to the fact that desktop apps are usually just "advertised" in the store. The description page usually contains a link that brings you to the developer's webpage in order for you to download the app. It is different from windows 8 apps that can be directly downloaded from the store. Please let me know if this answers your question.

Sincerely,

Joel ** (name removed for his privacy (olivier))

** @microsoft.com

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