index.yml

### YamlMime:Hub
title: Windows app development documentation
summary: Everything you need to design, build, package, and publish Windows apps.
brand: windows
metadata:
   title: Windows app development documentation
   description: Everything you need to design, build, package, and publish Windows apps.
   ms.topic: hub-page
   ms.date: 02/20/2026
   ms.localizationpriority: medium
   
highlightedContent:
  # itemType: architecture | concept | deploy | download | get-started | how-to-guide | learn | overview | quickstart | reference | tutorial | video | whats-new
   items:
    - title: What's new for Windows developers
      itemType: whats-new
      url: /windows/apps/whats-new/whats-new-for-developers 
    - title: Introduction to the Windows developer platform
      itemType: concept
      url: /windows/apps/introduction
    - title: Build your first Windows app
      itemType: tutorial 
      url: /windows/apps/get-started/start-here
    - title: Support
      itemType: reference
      url: /windows/apps/develop/support

productDirectory:
  title: Your path to building Windows apps
  summary: Start with the fundamentals, design great experiences, build your app, and prepare it for distribution.
  items:

  - title: Essentials
    imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-essentials.svg
    links:
      - url: /windows/apps/introduction
        text: Introduction
      - url: /windows/apps/get-started
        text: Core concepts
      - url: /windows/apps/get-started/start-here
        text: Get started
      - url: /windows/apps/develop/support
        text: Help and guidance
  - title: Design
    imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-design.svg
    links:
      - url: /windows/apps/design/index
        text: Overview
      - url:  /windows/apps/design/design-principles
        text:  Design principles
      - url:  /windows/apps/design/guidelines-overview
        text: Guidelines
      - url:  /windows/apps/design/downloads
        text: Design tools and resources
  - title: Develop
    imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-develop.svg
    links:
      - url: /windows/apps/develop/
        text: Overview
      - url: /windows/apps/develop/features-overview
        text: Features
      - url: /windows/apps/desktop/modernize/
        text: Use features with other UI frameworks
      - url: /windows/apps/develop/platform/csharp-winrt/
        text: Platforms
      - url: /windows/apps/api-reference/
        text: API reference
      - url: /windows/apps/dev-tools/
        text: Tools and samples
  - title: Package and deploy
    imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-package.svg
    links:
      - url: /windows/apps/package-and-deploy/
        text: Overview
      - url: /windows/apps/package-and-deploy/packaging/
        text: Packaging
      - url: /windows/apps/package-and-deploy/choose-distribution-path
        text: Choose a distribution path
      - url: /windows/apps/package-and-deploy/deploy-overview
        text: Deployment
  - title: Publish
    imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-publish.svg
    links:
      - url: /windows/apps/publish/
        text: Overview
      - url: /windows/apps/publish/get-started
        text: Get started with Microsoft Store
      - url: /windows/apps/publish/partner-center/open-a-developer-account
        text: Developer account
      - url: /windows/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/reserve-your-apps-name
        text: App submission
      - url: /windows/apps/publish/publish-your-app/msix/publish-update-to-your-app-on-store
        text: App management
      - url: /windows/apps/publish/analyze-app-performance/msix
        text: App performance
tools:
  title: Platforms and SDKs
  summary: Build new apps or modernize existing ones using our SDKs, frameworks, and tools.
  items:
    - title: Windows App SDK
      imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-wasdk.svg
      url: /windows/apps/windows-app-sdk
    - title: WinUI
      imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-winui.svg
      url: /windows/apps/winui/winui3
    - title: Microsoft Foundry on Windows
      imageSrc: /windows/apps/images/hub-foundry.svg
      url: /windows/ai

additionalContent:
  sections:
    # Section
    - title: Tools and resources
      items:
        - title: Samples
          summary: Explore sample apps and code snippets that demonstrate Windows app features and APIs.
          url: /windows/apps/get-started/samples
        - title: Windows developer tools 
          summary: Set up your development environment with tools for Windows or the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
          url: /windows/dev-environment/
        - title: Windows developer blog
          summary: Read announcements, release updates, and deep dives from the Windows developer team.
          url: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/ifdef-windows/  
        - title: Windows App Community Discord
          summary: Connect with other Windows developers to get help, share ideas, and stay up to date.
          url: https://discord.gg/eBHZSKG

  footer: "[@WindowsDocs](https://dotnet.social/@windowsdocs) - [OneDevMinute on YouTube](/shows/One-Dev-Minute/?WT.mc_id=odm-c9-niner) - [Windows developer support](https://developer.microsoft.com/windows/support) - [Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/windows)"