Initial Version

We are creating the first version of our application and decide that we need a User database table with the following columns: Name (primary key), LastAccessedDate

So we create a User class as follows:

[Table]
public class User : INotifyPropertyChanged, INotifyPropertyChanging
{
  private string name;
  private DateTime? lastAccessed;

  [Column(IsPrimaryKey = true, CanBeNull = false, AutoSync = AutoSync.OnInsert)]
  public string Name
  {
  get { return name; }
  set
    {
      NotifyPropertyChanging("Name");
      name = value;
      NotifyPropertyChanged("Name");
    }
  }

  [Column]
  public DateTime? LastAccessed
  {
    get { return lastAccessed; }
    set
    {
      NotifyPropertyChanging("LastAccessed");
      lastAccessed = value;
      NotifyPropertyChanged("LastAccessed");
    }
  }

  // Version column aids update performance.
  [Column(IsVersion = true)]
  private Binary version;

  // INotifyPropertyChanged Members
  // INotifyPropertyChanging Members
}

In App.xaml.cs, you would use the following code to create your database:

using (MyDataContext db = new MyDataContext(DBConnectionString))
{
  // Create the database if it does not exist.
  if (db.DatabaseExists() == false)
  {
    // Create the local database.
    db.CreateDatabase();
  }
}

That is all the code that is needed for the first version as there are no update scenarios. You deploy your app to the Marketplace and hundreds of customers download it. We will call this group of people that downloaded it: Group A.

It is important to note that when a database is created for the first time (unless specific) it has a DatabaseSchemaVersion of 0.

Version 2

Let’s say that for the next version of your app, you need to change the table schema for User to add a Theme id as now your app lets the user choose which theme to use.

This requires an update to the User class:

//added in DB_VERSION 2
[Column(CanBeNull = true)]
public int? ThemeId

This column must allow nulls so that it can be added to existing rows in User table.

The code is App.xaml.cs will need to change to take into account two scenarios:

· Those in Group A upgrading from the first release to version 2
· Those downloading the app for the first time at version 2 (we will refer to them as Group B)

At the top of App.xaml.cs, add a DB_VERSION field to keep track of the current version of the database changes:

private static int DB_VERSION = 2;

The replace the previous code as follows:

using (MyDataContext db = new MyDataContext(DBConnectionString))
{
  if (db.DatabaseExists() == false)
  {
    db.CreateDatabase();
    DatabaseSchemaUpdater dbUpdater = db.CreateDatabaseSchemaUpdater();
    dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion = DB_VERSION;
    dbUpdater.Execute();
  }
  else
  {
    DatabaseSchemaUpdater dbUpdater = db.CreateDatabaseSchemaUpdater();

    if (dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion < DB_VERSION)
    {
      if (dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion < 2)
      {
        //added in version 2
        dbUpdater.AddColumn<User>("ThemeId");
      }

    dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion = DB_VERSION;
    dbUpdater.Execute();
    }
  }
}

We release this new version of the app to the Marketplace and those in Group A update their application. When they run it for the first time, they will fall into the else statement as the database already exists. The DatabaseSchemaVersion will be 0 which is less than our current version of 2, so it will go into the code that will add the ThemeId column to the existing User table. The DatabaseSchemaVersion will then be updated to 2 so that the update code will no longer run.

Now let’s look at Group B who are downloading the app for the first time when it was at version 2. For them, no database will exist so one will be created. It is important to point out that when the database is created it will include the ThemeId column on User since it is part of the User object. The DatabaseSchemaVersion is now updated so that on the next run of the app when the code hits the else block it will not try to add the column again and throw an exception.

Version 3

Let’s do a third version of the application and add a birthdate column to User:

//added in DB_VERSION 3
[Column(CanBeNull = true)]
public DateTime? DOB

In App.xaml.cs, change the version to 3:

private static int DB_VERSION = 3;

Now add a new if block for the new column:

using (MyDataContext db = new MyDataContext(DBConnectionString))
{
  if (db.DatabaseExists() == false)
  {
    db.CreateDatabase();
    DatabaseSchemaUpdater dbUpdater = db.CreateDatabaseSchemaUpdater();
    dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion = DB_VERSION;
    dbUpdater.Execute();
  }
  else
  {
    DatabaseSchemaUpdater dbUpdater = db.CreateDatabaseSchemaUpdater();
    if (dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion < DB_VERSION)
    {
      if (dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion < 2)
      {
        //added in version 2
        dbUpdater.AddColumn<User>("ThemeId");
      }

      if (dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion < 3)
      {
        //added in version 3
        dbUpdater.AddColumn<User>("DOB");
      }

      dbUpdater.DatabaseSchemaVersion = DB_VERSION;
      dbUpdater.Execute();
    }
  }
}

The above code now correctly handles the following scenarios:

· Those installing version 3 of the app as the first version they installed (new database will be created)
· Those with version 2 that are updating to version 3 (upgrade from previous version)
· Those at version 1 that didn’t update to version 2 but are now updating to version 3 (skip intermediate versions)

It should be easy to see how additional versions will require an increment to the DB_VERSION value and the addition of an if block to handle those changes added in a specific version.

App Hub – http://developer.windowsphone.com (http://create.msdn.com/en-US/)

• Visual Studio 2010 Express
• Expression Blend for Windows Phone
• Windows Phone Emulator
• XNA Game Studio 4.0
• Silverlight/.NET Framework

Code Samples (Silverlight) – http://create.msdn.com/en-US/education/catalog/article/wp7_code_samples

Code Samples (XNA) – http://create.msdn.com/en-US/education/catalog/?contenttype=4&devarea=0&platform=0&sort=1

Application Bar Icons for Windows Phone 7

• 32-bit computers – C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Phone\v7.0\Icons
• 64-bit computers – C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Phone\v7.0\Icons  

Theme XAML files

• 32-bit computers – C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Phone\v7.0\Design
• 64-bit computers – C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows Phone\v7.0\Design

Windows Phone Developer Registration

Application Deployment

Capability Detection

GUI – http://mobileworld.appamundi.com/blogs/petevickers/archive/2010/11/02/gui-interface-for-capabilitydetection-exe.aspx

Silverlight Performance Analysis tool – Coming Soon (announced at PDC10) – http://www.shazaml.com/archives/silverlight-performance-analysis-tool-coming-soon

Documentation

Fundamental Concepts – http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff967549(v=VS.92).aspx

Windows Phone Design System – Codename Metro  – http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=189338

Design Templates for Windows Phone 7 – http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=196225

UI Design and Interaction Guide for Windows Phone 7 – http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=183218

Summary – http://www.shazaml.com/archives/summary-ui-design-interaction-guide-for-windows-phone-7

Windows Phone 7 Application Certification Requirements – http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9730558

Summary – http://www.shazaml.com/archives/summary-of-windows-phone-7-application-certification-requirements

Top 10 Tips for a Successful Marketplace Certification – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jodonnell/archive/2010/10/06/windows-phone-7-top-10-tips-for-a-successful-marketplace-certification.aspx

WP7 Training Course – http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/wp7trainingcourse.aspx

Fiddler and the Windows Phone 7 Emulator – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/fiddler/archive/2010/10/15/fiddler-and-the-windows-phone-emulator.aspx

Presentations

16 MIX10 Videos – http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2010/03/17/videos-of-mix10-windows-phone-sessions.aspx

Silverlight and Windows Phone 7 Performance Tips (SilverlightTV) – http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/SilverlightTV/SIlverlight-TV-47-Silverlight-and-Windows-Phone-7-Performance-Tips

PDC10 – http://player.microsoftpdc.com/

Silverlight Video Resources – http://www.silverlight.net/learn/videos/windows-phone/

Open Source  & 3rd Party Tools

Open Source

Silverlight Toolkit (WP7) – http://silverlight.codeplex.com/releases/view/55034

• Release (Sept) – http://timheuer.com/blog/archive/2010/09/16/silverlight-toolkit-for-windows-phone-7-released.aspx
  • WrapPanel
  • DatePicker
  • TimePicker
  • ToggleSwitch
  • ContextMenu
  • GestureService/GestureListener
• Release (Nov) – http://lucbei.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/silverlight-for-windows-phone-toolkit-november-2010-release/
  • AutoCompleteBox
  • ListPicker
  • LongListSelector
  • Page Transitions

Json.NET – http://json.codeplex.com/

High performance ProgressBar – http://www.jeff.wilcox.name/2010/08/performanceprogressbar/

Sterling Isolated Storage Database – http://sterling.codeplex.com/

LowProfileImageLoader – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/delay/archive/2010/09/02/keep-a-low-profile-lowprofileimageloader-helps-the-windows-phone-7-ui-thread-stay-responsive-by-loading-images-in-the-background.aspx

DeferredLoadListBox – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/delay/archive/2010/09/08/never-do-today-what-you-can-put-off-till-tomorrow-deferredloadlistbox-and-stackpanel-help-windows-phone-7-lists-scroll-smoothly-and-consistently.aspx

Windows Phone 7 Design Templates – http://wp7designtemplates.codeplex.com/

Turnstile control – http://turnstile.codeplex.com/

MVVM Light Toolkit – http://mvvmlight.codeplex.com/

Caliburn Micro – http://caliburnmicro.codeplex.com/

Fee

Telerik RadControls for Windows Phone – http://www.telerik.com/products/windows-phone.aspx

Perst database – http://www.mcobject.com/june30/2010

Books

Programming Windows Phone 7 (Charles Petzold) – http://www.charlespetzold.com/phone/

101 Windows Phone 7 Apps, Volume I: Developing Apps 1-50 (Adam Nathan) – pre-order

The below screenshots were taken from the keynote video and you can see the timings at the bottom if you want to watch the video:

In addition to debugging on the device, you can profile the app by selecting Silverlight Performance Analysis:

The device will then be prepared for profiling:

After running the application, a graphical summary will be created with execution time on the x-axis.  It shows color-coded frame rates (green is good, red is bad) and relates that to CPU-usage and specific Storyboards:

In the above example, it appears that the first Storyboard might be leading to increased CPU usage and a degraded frame rate.  You can highlight and drill down to see details for a specific time frame (from approx 4.5 to 7.5 seconds into the profiling session):

The next screen shows CPU and GPU metrics as well as a list of warnings.  The first entry warns about 35 instances of ColorAnimation:

Scrolling down, you will see an Element Summary:

Followed by a Frames section with a CPU usage graph:

And finally the ability to drill down the Visual Tree and see problems highlighted:

This tool would be very helpful in analyzing app performance on the device.  ScottGu did not give a specific release date for this or any additional tools that might be coming.

Today I saw that there is a Silverlight Firestarter event scheduled for December 2, 2010 and wonder if the tool will be ready to release then. 

It would make a great time to announce it.

1. Cannot Search by Keywords

When I submitted the Cousin Calculator app to the marketplace, I was able to enter keywords that would make finding the application easier:

But when I search for the app using one of the keywords, the application doesn’t show in the results:

Currently it is going to be more difficult to find some apps.

2. Cannot Search for Subgenre

Multiple genres in the marketplace have subgenres, but it is not always easy to remember which subgenre goes with each genre.  If I explore the SHOPPING subgenre under LIFESTYLE, there are currently 27 apps.  If I do a search for “shopping” I only see 6 apps:

3. Missing Genres or Subgenres

Compared to iTunes, the marketplace is missing some categories such as:

• Education
• Games
  • Arcade
  • Dice
  • Role Playing

So if I am looking for flash cards, the periodic table, or other educational tools and games where in the marketplace should I currently look?

4. Cannot Filter Results Based on Language

Browsing the apps in the marketplace, currently I see applications for languages that I don’t read. The name of the app is in a foreign language and so are the description and screen shots:

I should be able to specify the languages of apps that I want to see in my results.

5. Cannot Sort by Top Rated

You can sort applications by Top selling and Release date and you can see the number of stars for their rating, but you can’t sort by Top rated.

6. Sort by Release Date Doesn’t Group by Date

When browsing the marketplace, if you sort by Release date, the only way to see the release date is to click to see the app details.  It would be nice if the results showed the apps grouped by date.

7. Missing Counts when Browsing Genres

When “window shopping” in the marketplace, it would be nice to see the number of apps in each genre and subgenre.

I am hopeful that we will soon see some of these changes coming to the marketplace.

What issues do you see with the marketplace?

What things do you really like about it?

At first it appeared that Marketplace was missing four more categories than it was because of its use of nested categories.  It turns out that Marketplace is more fine-grained when it comes to Business and it has a Communication category that App Store doesn’t.  But Marketplace is missing categories for Education and Medical.  I think it is a huge oversight to not have a top-level Education category in Marketplace.

Now let’s compare the Games categories between the two stores:

It is surprising to see that App Store has 5 more categories than Marketplace with Classic being the only category that Marketplace has that App Store doesn’t.

I suspect that as more applications are developed for (or ported to) the Windows Phone 7 that developers will be asking Microsoft to add categories to Marketplace.

Download and copy the Caliburn.Micro.WP7.zip file to the following directory on your computer: \Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Templates\ProjectTemplates\Silverlight for Windows Phone

Start up Visual Studio and create a new project.  You will see an option for Caliburn.Micro (WP7):

After the project is created, you will see the following project structure:

Fix the reference to Caliburn.Micro (download from CodePlex), set a breakpoint in the constructor of MainPageViewModel, and run the application.  You will see that when navigation happens to MainPage, that MainPageViewModel is created. 

Continue execution to view the app in the emulator:

I like Rob’s idea of doing View-first for pages and ViewModel-first for components on a Page.  I have chosen the following naming: MyPage/MyPageViewModel (pages) and MyView/MyViewModel (user controls).

The user is shown multiple views of the same item side by side using the Pivot control. The buttons on the Application Bar remain consistent across Pivot pages.

Example: E-mail (all, unread, urgent, flagged); Appointment (details, attendees)

(video)

The user is presented with a panorama containing multiple pages of content. The first is a list that acts as a menu. Clicking on a list items takes you to another panorama with the specific content. The Application Bar is not used.

Example: AP Mobile

(video)

The July 2010 release of the UI Design and Interaction Guide for Windows Phone 7 is a document that all designers and developers of Windows Phone 7 applications need to become thoroughly familiar with.  It is a beautifully laid out 101-page document that discussed the phone’s capabilities, controls, and interactions.  As I read the guide, I took notes that I could refer to quickly as needed.  The result is a 10-page summary of the UI Design & Interaction Guide for Windows Phone 7.  I hope others find it useful.

Here is a link to the documentation topics:

• Getting Started
  • Introduction
  • Obtain and Build the Code

• Soup to Nuts
  • Basic Configuration, Actions and Conventions
  • Customizing The Bootstrapper
  • All About Actions
  • WP7 Basics
  • Coroutines

• Recipes
  • SimpleContainer

I know Rob has been working on some WP7 goodness that should be out soon.  Looking forward to the release.