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 Windows 8: Windows Desktop App vs Windows Store App: What's Difference?  In
the Microsoft Windows 8 operating system you can run two different types of apps: a
Windows Desktop app
and a Windows Store app.So what is the difference? We will explain it in this article, and also discuss if there is any reason to still create a traditional desktop application for Windows.
Should I convert my Windows Desktop app to a Windows Store app?  If you have older legacy software, that is well-tested and used by many customers, there is no really reason to convert the application to a Windows Store app. It can still be used on traditional computers with Windows 8 installed. One exception can be if you have created a small application that can be easily converted to a Windows Store app and that you think can be useful on tablet computers. Then there may be a good reason to create a Windows Store app version of the software. But if this not is the case for you, you may consider to instead creating a Windows Store app that co-operates with your current desktop software; for example an app that presents some selected data or a summary report. Are there any benefits of creating a traditional Windows Desktop app today? Yes, there are a lot benefits here. Firstly, the most users still have Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, so by creating a traditional desktop application you will reach them. And as mentioned, the application will also work in Windows 8. So you will reach all users with desktop and laptop computers with the same software. A well-optimized desktop application, for example created in C++, is also significant faster than a Windows Store app. And if you plan to create a complex program with lots of functions, then the simplified user interface of Windows Store apps may not be enough. A desktop application is also the only option if you want to create an application that uses hardware in a special way. One practical example is our product USB AutoRun Creator that gives AutoRun capabilities to USB flash drives. This product can not be converted to a Windows Store app. Are there any risks of creating a traditional Windows Desktop app today?  It is hard to predict the future, but
cloud-based software are getting more and more common, so more user's
will prefer cloud-based solutions in the future. But it depends of what
type of software that you develop. Some software can not be placed in
the cloud in an easy way (for example the USB AutoRun Creator product
mentioned above), so they will continue to be distributed as a
desktop software, for many more years. Can a Windows Desktop app be touch based? Yes, they can. There is an API in Windows 8 (named Windows Touch API) that can be used to make a traditional desktop app touchscreen aware. There is also a sensor API in Windows 8 that gives native support for sensors, for example devices that can measure temperature or location. Can same setup tool be used to install a Windows Store app and a Windows Desktop app? No, different methods are required. A Windows Desktop app can be installed in Windows 8 by using a traditional setup tool (like our Visual Installer) but a Windows Store app requires a completely different installation method for its installation, which is described in this article on our web site. For more information about how to install a Windows Desktop app (a traditional desktop application) on Windows 8, read this article on our web site. Can I sell a Windows Desktop app via Windows Store? Yes, it is possible. You can sell both Windows Store apps and Desktop apps via Windows Store. More information is available in the blog post Listing your desktop app in the Store on MSDN Blogs. 
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| Article written by: Mika Larramo |