This is a living post (regularly updated document). I will keep adding links to relevant design & development resources for building dual-screen apps for devices like the Surface Duo as I find them.
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What is the Surface Duo?
The Surface Duo is a dual-screen device from Microsoft.
- It runs Android by default (access apps in Play store)
- It has built-in support for M365 apps (productivity)
- It has a unique 360-degree hinge (multi-posture)
- It is mobile developer friendly (native, cross-platform, mobile web)
Want to know the vision behind the device? Read this:
Want to read detailed posts on the developer journey for Surface Duo app development? Follow this tag:
#surfaceduodev
Have resources of your own that you want to share? We'd love to hear from you - just leave a comment!
1. Setup: Getting Started
Want to start building apps for Surface Duo? Start here:
- Read | Introduction to dual screen devices
- Install | Surface Duo SDK
- Validate | Test Your Emulator
- Develop | Native, Cross-Platform or Mobile Web
- Subscribe | Surface Duo Blog
- Bookmark | Azure for Mobile Developers
2. Build: Development Resources
This section lists developer-authored content for the various development platforms, that provide deep dives into specific aspects
Design Guidance
- Dual Screen App Patterns
- Dual Screen Layout Libraries
- Pen Events On Surface Duo
- Hinge Angle on Surface Duo
Native Android / Kotlin, Java
Cross-Platform / React Native
- Get Started
- Part 1: Build React Native Apps For Surface Duo
- Part 2: New React Native dual-screen navigation module
- React Native Samples
Cross-Platform / Xamarin
Cross-Platform / Flutter
Unity / Gaming
Mobile Web / JavaScript
- Get Started
- CSS Media Query: Spanning
- Windows Segments API: Screens
- Part 1: Dual Screen web experiences preview
- Part 2: Build and Test dual-screen web apps
- Web Samples
3. Learn: Modules & Paths
Microsoft Learn is a good resource for self-study with the potential to earn certification in specific tech areas.
- Browse | Learn Content
- Explore | Certifications
- Path | Customize, add advanced features to Xamarin.Forms apps
- Module | Build dual-screen Xamarin.Forms apps w/ TwoPaneView
4. Code: Samples & Projects
- (Kotlin) Two Note | Browse the code | Read Article
- (Kotlin) Photo Editor | Browse Code
Top comments (2)
As a beginner diving into Surface Duo development, I can't stress enough how crucial it is to have access to quality learning resources. When I first embarked on this journey, I stumbled upon deathlogbook.com/, which proved to be an invaluable treasure trove of tutorials, documentation, and community support. The step-by-step guides and insightful articles on this website have been instrumental in helping me grasp the fundamentals of Surface Duo development. It's reassuring to know that such a resource exists to guide newcomers like me through the intricacies of dual-screen app development. Highly recommended!
Added links for Unity gaming samples and getting started.