Windows native app development is a mess
6 hours ago
- #Electron
- #Native Apps
- #Windows Development
- The author, a long-time Windows developer, shares their journey from early programming experiences with Visual C++ to modern Windows app development.
- They created a utility called 'Display Blackout' to black out secondary monitors when gaming, highlighting the challenges of native Windows app development.
- The article outlines the evolution of Windows programming frameworks from Win32 to WinUI 3, noting the complexity and fragmentation.
- Key challenges include the need for P/Invoke to access basic functionalities, the lack of modern .NET versions preinstalled, and cumbersome distribution methods like MSIX.
- The author criticizes Microsoft's half-hearted approach to modernizing Windows app development, leading many developers to prefer web technologies or third-party frameworks.
- Despite some potential for improvement with the Windows App SDK, the author remains skeptical about the future of native Windows apps, favoring web stacks with Electron or Tauri for better integration.