Must-Read Resources for Windows App Developers

If you are a Windows developer, you work in an industry that is always changing. It takes time and effort to keep your skills up to date, and you need to stay informed on the latest trends and changes in technology.

With Windows being the most popular PC operating system in the world, you have an overwhelming array of different sites and blogs that can offer valuable news and information. In fact, there is so much, that it can take a considerable amount of time and effort just to sort through them all.

While creating this overview, we decided to help the Windows developers out there by looking into many of the Windows resources that are online and recommending the ones that we think offer the greatest value. Here are some must-read resources we found.

Windows Blog

With the Windows blog, you can get the latest information and resources right from the source for building your skills. This is a blog from Microsoft and it covers all things Windows. They have a developers section that should be on the reading list of every professional in this field, and the main blog will have news, tips, tutorials, and more. It not only covers things like the latest updates to the Windows OS for PC, but they also talk about Microsoft products like the Surface tablets and Windows Phone devices. Follow on Twitter

Microsoft Development Center

At the Microsoft Development Center, you have a range of tools and resources that can be useful to developers that work on Microsoft products. You have a vast array of tools that can be used for developing Windows apps, they have a number of different downloads, articles that can help a developer to stay current, and explanations that can help a developer to learn different processes. If you work on Windows products, this basically is a must have range of resources. Follow on Twitter

Windows Central

With Windows Central, you have a site that is a hub for news and opinion, covering all things relating to Windows. It is a site that can be useful to both consumers and developers and it contains information that can be of interest for people that use Windows PCs, the Windows Phone, Windows tablets, and just about anything else from Microsoft. With this site, you will get the latest news, reviews of Windows products, tips, tutorials and more. Follow on Twitter

Hongkiat

Hongkiat is a blog for designers and developers. The site contains a wide assortment of content that covers more than just design and development for Windows apps. By browsing the site, you can learn all sorts of useful information about technology and it provides a range of tips for developing apps, and using different programs in both your personal and professional life. If you want to find interesting pieces on technology news, opinion, tips and inspiration, then Hongkiat is a site that you have to check out. Follow on Twitter

The Verge- Microsoft

For resources that cover technology and its relationship to modern culture, there are few sites that can compare with The Verge. You will find the latest news and opinion pieces concerning the advances in technology and they have a Microsoft section that covers everything relating to Microsoft properties like the Windows OS, Windows Phones, Xbox and more. You can find info on new product releases, reviews, news stories about the latest updates to the operating system, and info about the company. It is not specifically a resource for developers, but it is a great place for developers and consumers to get all of the latest info on Microsoft. Follow on Twitter

Dev Pro Connections- Windows Development

Dev Pro Connections is essentially a community site for developers and other professionals in the industry. The site contains a wide range of resources for the different versions of the Windows OS, and it has a news section that can keep developers up to date on all of the news that is relevant to the operating system. Along with the news, you can also find resources on coding, some opinion pieces, and tips for keeping your operation at the cutting edge of Windows development. Follow on Twitter

Microsoft Learn

The Microsoft Learn is a free suite of learning resources for IT professionals. On this site, you can learn about developing for Windows OS, cloud development, game development, and more. The various online courses can start you out with the basics that beginners will need to get started and it continues on to build the user’s skills and knowledge. If you are just starting as a developer, it can help to set the foundation that you will need for success, but the site has a deep knowledge base that can offer value to even the most experienced developers. Follow on Twitter

Microsoft Shows

With Shows, you have a site from developers and tech experts at Microsoft. The site provides insights into the conversations that go on among Microsoft tech experts, and it offers news, tips, videos, and tutorials for Microsoft. The site is sort of a combination of community, blog, news site, and information resource. As a developer, you can go to Shows to learn more about the Windows OS and to have discussions with other developers. Follow on Twitter

Developer.com's Microsoft Section

At Developer.com, you have a source that provides a great selection of resources for developers that work on Windows and a range of other coding systems. The site has a section that is specifically set to covering everything from Microsoft and you can find learning resources like tutorials and all of the breaking news about Microsoft and the Windows OS. It is a fairly technical site, so it offers a high value for professionals that develop apps for Windows. Follow on Twitter

Visual Studio Blog

Microsoft Visual Studio is a development environment from Microsoft that is used to create programs for Windows. With the Visual Studio blog, you have a source of information about the latest news on the Visual Studio environment, tips for developing apps, and a range of resources that can improve a developer’s skills and knowledge when it comes to using Visual Studio. Follow on Twitter

Hanselman

This is a blog from Scott Hanselman, a programmer and a member of the web platform team at Microsoft. The blog is fairly technical and it does cover other topics but is mostly about developing apps for Windows. By reading this blog, you can learn different tips for developing apps and he also shares his opinion on various subjects relating to technology and culture. Follow on Twitter.

This list covers a wide range of different resources that can be valuable to Windows app developers. With some covering tutorials and learning, and others offering news, opinion. and reviews, you should be able to find all of the information that you need from these selected resources.