One of the great benefits of using C++ to write Windows Store apps is the ability to mix and match various components and create compelling user experiences. There are a variety of apps that use XAML and DirectX together and have built delightful user experiences. For example, there is the FreshPaint app in the Windows Store that allows free form panting using touch or the OneNote app which allows for, as you know, note taking using a stylus (along with keyboard support).
However, if you want to take a look at code and learn from the experts and masters who have built such apps, there are very few options. One such code base is Project Austin which is a sample built by the C++ team to demonstrate using C++ (and CX) along with XAML and DirectX to build a great note taking app. Today’s post, however, is not about Project Austin. It is about a cool sample built by a colleague and C++ enthusiast, Thomas Petchel. Tom built a cool app named Weathr, which he describes as “3D weather app for Windows 8.1 using C++, DirectX, and XAML“. I cannot agree more. This is the best weather app I have seen in a long time and it shows in the user experience. Tom has also made the sources available for anyone to check out and play with. If you are serious about learning how to build such great experiences in your Windows Store apps, please check out the code. And if you make changes to the code, please ensure you contribute back the changes. This ensures that all the folks get the new stuff!!
I can talk about code and design, but I would leave that out for fellow programmers. The app is not on the Store though. So if you want to get the app, you have to build the sources J
Cheers and Happy Holidays!
-Sridhar
