Setting Up Windows 10 For Development

Introduction

Windows 10 is one of the most flexible and robust development platforms ever given. Windows Core and UAP have enabled developers to build experiences once and then target them to any device that runs Windows 10 be it an Xbox or Desktop.

In this article, I will talk in-depth about how to set up their own development platform without encountering much of a hassle.

Let's begin our journey with a clean build of Windows 10. I am using Windows 10 Insider Pro Preview Build 10074.

Figure 1: Windows 10

For all the people who are new to development and are very new to Windows 10, it will be very helpful to go through the architecture of Windows 10 before getting your hands dirty with setting up the development build.

People who are very familiar with App Dev and Web Dev on Windows 8/8.1, here is how you set up Visual Studio 2015 Community RC.

Installing Visual Studios 2015 Community RC

For people who don't have Visual Studio 2015, It's an easy task and requires patience when you are doing it for the first time.
1. Start by downloading VS2015 Community RC from [https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/visual-studio-2015-downloads-vs.aspx]
2. It will download an exe file named vs_community.exe
3. When you are trying to install, select “Custom in setup and then select the Universal Windows Apps Development Tools.”
4. Then it will complete the installing, this might take 4-5 hours depending on your network speed and the system.
5. You will get this after the installation is done.
Figure 2: Visual Studios 2015 Community RC
People who have already installed Visual Studio 2015RC Community without custom can still get to the same page in a jiffy by downloading the tools and updating the Windows SDK as in the following:
1. People can follow the link https://dev.windows.com/en-US/downloads/install-dev-tools-visual-studio-2015
2. Click on Add Tools and you guys will get an exe file downloaded.
3. On executing the .exe file you will get the following screen and after its completion, you will be all set to go.
Figure 3: Install Visual Studios 2015 Community RC

Enabling the Windows 10 Developer option

When you try to open any new project in Windows 10 you will be prompted to enable your device with a dialog. (You will also need your device to be enabled to use the designers and debug your app.)

Figure 4: Windows 10 Developer Mode

You need to use the following procedure sequentially when you are enabling the developer mode.

Open a cmd prompt with administrator privileges.

Figure 5: Command Prompt
Run Gpedit.msc.

Figure 6: Local Group Policy Editor
Go to Local Computer Policy then select Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Package Deployment.

Figure 7: App Package Deployment
Edit the policies to enable the following:
- Allow all trusted apps to install (enables your device for side-loading of apps)
- Allows development of Windows Store apps and installing them from an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) (Enables your device for development from Visual Studio)
Figure 8: Edit App Package Policies
Reboot your machine.

After you are done with the procedure you will now be able to build apps and leverage the power of Windows Universal (UAP). To mark the successful completion of the process you will have the following screen when you open Visual Studio 2015RC.

Figure 9: Open Visual Studio

I will be writing more about the Application Dev taking in the entire power of UAP and much more in future articles.