Summary

The Windows Store represents a huge shift in application deployment. The process is far more complex and restrictive than older deployment options. You must follow carefully prescribed guidelines for your application to be considered valid for placement in the Windows Store.

However, the benefits are major. The Windows Store provides the infrastructure to locate, deploy, and update an app once you have placed your app in the store. That reduces your responsibilities, and gives you a lot of instrumentation that you likely did not have with earlier options.

And, of course, the threat of malware is significantly reduced. Even for applications that do not go through the Windows Store, the process requires a level of trust via certificates that will be hard for malware to routinely overcome.

This chapter has told you the basics, but given that the Windows Store is rather new, you can expect evolution and refinement of the process in short order. Once you understand the concepts, you'll want to invest some time in online resources to be aware of changes over time.