Microsoft offers a set of certifications that validate a software developer’s expertise in Microsoft technologies. Certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) are achieved by passing a set of related certification exams, each with a different technology focus.
Learning path objective:
Prepare developers for Microsoft exam 70-485, Advanced Windows Store App Development Using C#.
Target audience:
This learning path is intended for software developers who are interested in passing Microsoft exam 70-485, a component of the following MCSD certifications.
Learning path course sequence:
| Course | Duration |
| Windows 8 Background Processing and Lifecycle Management | 3h 25m |
| Building Windows Runtime Components | 1h 23m |
| Cross-platform Development in .NET and WinRT | 2h 32m |
| Selling Windows 8 Apps | 3h 22m |
| Building High-Performance Windows 8 Applications | 2h 39m |
| Windows 8 Metro Connected Apps | 4h 09m |
| Introduction to Localization and Globalization in .NET | 3h 00m |
| Microsoft Test Manager 2012 | 1h 54m |
| Test Automation with CodedUI | 5h 22m |
| Total | 27h 49m |
Learning path description:
Gill Cleeren’s course on background processing, state management and lifecycle management provides a deep dive into this important aspect of Windows Store application development.
To learn more about exam topics relating to the Windows Runtime (WinRT), check out Scott Seely’s course on building Windows Runtime components, as well as Iris Classon’s course on cross-platform development in .NET and WinRT.
Yacine Khammal’s course on selling Windows Store applications provides a well-rounded look at how the Windows Store itself works, what’s involved with certifying your application for deployment via the Windows Store, and how to monetize your application via licensing, trial offers and in-app purchases. His course on connected apps provides in-depth coverage on exam topics such as accessing HTTP services, tiles, toasts and push notifications.
Kevin Dockx’s course on building high performance Windows Store applications explores techniques for ensuring your Windows Store applications provide the responsiveness and performance that users expect. This includes techniques for designing and implementing your application, as well as tools for analyzing your application’s performance.
This learning path concludes with a trio of courses that, although not exclusively focused on Windows Store application development, provide training on key exam topics important to Windows 8 Store application developers. Jeremy Clark’s course, for one, provides a solid overview of .NET support for localization and globalization, while Esteban Garcia’s course on Microsoft Test Manager offers an introduction to using MTM to plan, manage and execute manual and automated tests. And, finally, Marcel de Vries’ course gives in-depth coverage on UI test automation using CodedUI.