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Are there resources on the web which help to get started with native Metro app development with Delphi (Win32)?

So far I found the MSDN introduction, Getting started with Metro style apps, which links to the available API sets, including two native APIs:

  • Windows Runtime (WinRT) - "A native API built into the operating system. Fundamental to Metro style apps. Implemented in C++ and supported in JavaScript, C#, Visual Basic, and C++ in a way that feels natural for each language".
  • Win32 and COM for Metro style apps - "The subset of the Win32 and COM APIs that you can use in a Metro style app". Quote:

Metro style apps can use a subset of the Win32 and COM API. This subset of APIs was chosen to support key scenarios for Metro style apps that were not already covered by the Windows Runtime, HTML/CSS, or other supported languages or standards. The Windows App Certification Kit ensures that your app uses only this subset of the Win32 and COM API.

Side note: the first Metro app contest already closed on January 8, 2012 according to the Metro Windows Store blog and the winners have been introduced end of February - these Metro apps are already available through the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

mjn
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    There isn't even a version of Delphi that supports WinRT (either native or managed) yet. Sure, you can do it by treating WinRT as a COM-based API which it ultimately is (e.g. see http://www.thomgerdes.com/2011/12/writing-hello-world-for-winrt-in-delphi.html), but don't expect any serious support or documentation until it's properly supported by Embarcadero. – Pavel Minaev Mar 11 '12 at 08:02
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    Here's hoping that the accepted answer in late-2012 becomes "Use Delphi XE3, now with native Metro support". – Warren P Mar 12 '12 at 13:20
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    I'm also hoping that metro apps submissions to Windows Store will not be restricted to apps created by Visual Studio only. – DamienD Mar 15 '12 at 12:53
  • It would be nice if more users deny any platform that has only vendor-locked compilers. Unfortunatelly, lots of them don't care. Betrayers! – OCTAGRAM Mar 31 '13 at 11:52

2 Answers2

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Thom Gerdes wrote this blog article on December 14, 2011:

Writing Hello World for WinRT in Delphi

There is relatively little information out there on developing Native Metro applications, especially for languages other than those that Microsoft has provided projections for (C++, C#, and JavaScript). Other languages, including Delphi, need to create their own projections before they can use them effectively. I've been investigating getting Delphi to produce native applications for WinRT.

And his article Hello World: Hooking events shows how to use Metro "multicast delegate" event handlers with Delphi.

Sources are available at https://github.com/tgerdes/DelphiWinRT

mjn
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There are some new blog and forum articles around this topic, pointing to problems with API usage which disqualifies applications from the MS app store:

Why no native WinRT support in Delphi XE3? - quoting a forum post by Allen Bauer

We are very keen on supporting WinRT with native Delphi & C++ code. Right now, the issues surrounding the WinRT space center around the fact that many OS-supplied APIs which are required by anyone implementing their own language RTL are actually off-limits unless you’re the VC++ RTL DLL. You know, little things like RtlUnwind for exception processing and VirtualAlloc (et. al.) for memory management… Any calls to those APIs from your application will automatically disqualify your application from being an "official" WinRT application capable of delivering through the MS app store.

See also: Third-party compilers locked out of Windows Runtime development

On the other hand, this official Microsoft presentation contains a statement that

Martyn (Lovell) made it clear that we not only want language designers and implementers to add WinRT to their list of target platforms for their language and toolchains, but we will help and advise.

mjn
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