How to create an app: Top tutorials for iOS, Android or desktop
Top tutorials show you how to create an app for any platform.
Although Microsoft’s mobile aspirations were all for nothing (sorry, Windows Phone fans), Microsoft’s still dominant on the desktop. Moreover, its ambitious universal approach to development means apps you create potentially have reach across a wide range of platforms.
01. Windows Dev Center
Microsoft’s Windows Dev Center is the natural starting point for anyone keen to make windows apps – for PCs, tablets, phones, and more. There are explainers about Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app development, insight into Windows conventions, and a bunch of code examples.
02. Create your first Windows app
If you want to quickly get something working, this tutorial from Microsoft walks you through how to create a simple ‘Hello, world’ app for UWP using XAML and C#. Also, rather than just fling up a dialog to say hello, this little app will speak.
03. Create a Windows desktop app with C#
This 15-minute video tutorial walks through how to create a desktop app for Windows using C# and Visual Studio. It comes from the Computer Science YouTube channel. You'll end up with a simple popup with two different response options.
04. Make a Windows clock app
This tutorial for Tuts+ goes a bit further than many beginners' guides. Vivek Maskara leads you through the process of making a clock, where the background gradually shifts colour by converting the time to a hexadecimal value.
05. Create a simple UWP game with DirectX
Sadly, this tutorial from Microsoft doesn’t leave you with a playable game at the end. Still, you do at least learn to work on the major components of a game: creating a game loop, rendering, controls, audio, and adding imagery.
Next page: How to make macOS apps for Macs
Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter
Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Current page: Making Windows apps
Prev Page Making Android apps Next Page Making macOS apps for MacsCraig is an editor, writer and designer. He writes about design and tech, specialising in Mac, iPhone and iPad, and has written for Creative Bloq, Stuff, TechRadar, MacFormat, The Guardian, Retro Gamer and more. You can view more of his writing on his blog, Revert to Saved.
Related articles
- Wait, Apple Pencil Pro is now cheaper than Apple Pencil 1 in this pre-Black Friday deal
- Apple still won't fix its most infuriating product design
- New M4 iMacs mean Apple's all-in-one remains a serious contender for creative work
- Record-low price alert: Amazon is selling the MacBook Air 13 (M2) for just $699