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#1 2012-08-30 07:07:42
WinRT support for XE3
In fact, a TLiveTemplate component spawns a new process in the WinRT space which is an actual WinRT LiveTile application.
This WinRT app communicates with the VCL-Metropolis "desktop" backend via HTTP/REST to start/stop the application or update the LiveTile.
So, for the user point of view, it will behave like a native WinRT application.
End-users, explains Thomas, will not care about the WinRT or Win32 technology, but only notice that some apps have the new style and some do not. “We took the VCL and FireMonkey frameworks and used the styling engines that we introduced in XE2 to allow them to modify the forms to take on the look of those controls, as well as adding features like Windows 8 gesture support, improving the touch handling, and also taking on some of the standard templates like the grid and split views.”
Metropolis also support Live Tiles with update of dynamic content, and even enables apps to show up in the Windows 8 App Bar (which most desktop application do not support). This is done by means of a small WinRT app that is installed with the Metropolis application, and which communicates with it over a REST API – there being no built-in inter-process communication between desktop and WinRT apps. The WinRT app is a kind of proxy that lets the user launch or close the desktop Metropolis app. However access to Windows 8 contracts is not supported. “I think we’re hitting on the key elements that end users are going to expect when they’re working with WinRT applications,” says Thomas.
(quoted from Tim's article)
I suspect the REST API is based on DataSnap.
This is a Client-Server stateless approach, just like in we use in mORMot User Interface. 
There are still some potential installation issues.
So-called "sideloading" works with some tweaks during installation process of the application.
Two drawbacks may arise:
1. The Windows security policy may change, and the tweak may be broken from any future Security Update pack;
2. Sounds like if, for security reasons, system may require enterprise SKUs (or a Domain Controler) - so it may not work for my grand mother home PC.
As a temporary conclusion, sounds like if WinRT support in XE3 is not so bad as expected.
I'm still convinced that a HTML5 / JavaScript based solution will be safer and lighter than such a complex and over-plumbing approach. I think SmartMobileStudio can easily support WinRT as target, in addition to mobile or desktop browsers: code in Object Pascal, talk to a mORMot server via REST, and enjoy!
Comments from blog article http://blog.synopse.info/post/2012/08/3 … rt-for-XE3.
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#2 2012-08-30 08:42:47
Re: WinRT support for XE3
Just discovered that Jon Lennart Aasenden - main developper of the SmartMobileStudio IDE and RTL - has been in an accident.
http://smartmobilestudio.com/forums/top … ed-update/
Jon, we wish you a quick recovery, and being back as soon as possible to your family and your great coding!
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