How can I launch a Windows Phone 7 app programmatically? - windows-phone-7

How can I launch a Windows Phone 7 app programmatically?
I want to launch a custom app built by me from another app built by me.. and hopefully be able to pass parameters.

I don't believe you can. As far as I'm aware, the interaction between applications is limited to the Microsoft.Phone.Tasks namespace.
I would personally expect this to be one of the aspects of Windows Phone 7 development to be improved pretty soon.

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How to develop Windows Phone 7.5 compatibile app?

I am starting first project for Windows Phone and it should work on at least Windows Phone 7.5. My question is if should I write app on Windows Phone 7.5 or should I write two app versions - once for Windows Phone 7.5 and another for Windows Phone 8?
I know that app which works on WP7.5 will also work on WP8 but what would you recommend? What would you do?
If you think that writing two apps for both versions is a better idea then should I write app on WP8 first and at the end remove special WP8 features to downgrade it for WP7.5 or maybe I should write WP7.5 app and then add some WP8 features to upgrade it to WP8?
I am asking because I want to learn WP developement and I have two tutorials: "WP7 jumpstart" and "WP8 jumpstart" tutorials (from MSDN) and I am wondering If I can skip WP7 and start directly with WP8?
Standard way will be to create a Windows Phone Class Library that will contain all the code except Page, View or Windows 8 specific code and than create Windows Phone App and set dependency to above created Library project. Now as Rowland Shaw as suggested you can target the Windows Phone app to 7.5 so that it will work for Windows 8 as well and if you want to use any Windows 8 specific API you can create separate application with same Library reference so that all the common code will not be duplicated.
Referr MSDN Link for the same.
If you wish to normally support all screen sizes, you should create 2 apps. Because WP7.x supported only 1 screen resolution, and running on WP8.x with larger screen the app will remain small size.
You would have to use WP7.5 if you are not going to impelement any feature which is present in only WP8

Apart from device & vs2012 is there Any Alternative way to test a windows phone app?

i am new to windows phone app development , i wanted to know
if is there any other alternative way to test a windows phone app apart from testing in a windows phone device and testing vs2012 built in emulator ???
1) The reason i have asked like these that i wanted to know if i can download a windows phone emulator separately and test my app in it.
2)Am i missing any other alternative provided ?
Please let me know.
Thanks in Advance.
No these are your options. You can start the emulator without VS, and you can deploy apps to it via a command line tool, but you don't get any of these without installing the WP SDK for VS2012. But since this is all free, is that a big deal?
You could submit your app to the store as a beta, and have invited users test your app on their phones.
This article may be of use, although it still requires .NET framework and some other dependencies (but I don't think you'll ever get away without using them):
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/31861/Windows-Mobile-Development-Without-Visual-Studio

Can I run an app without GUI on Windows Phone 7, 7.5 and 8?

On WP 7 and WP 7.5 I have to develop the app on C#, nonetheless, on WP8 I can develop an app on native C++
Assuming the corresponding programming language, I was wondering if it is possible to run a process or an app without GUI on Windows Phone 7, 7.5 and 8.
Is it possible? How can I do it? Any example around the web?
Apps need to have UIs on windows phone. You can't just deploy straight-up services. But apps with UIs can start background processes. I've expanded in the past on what these background processes are at a related question regarding full background multitasking # How to run application in background in Windows Phone?
You can't run Windows Phone App without GUI. You can run app with GUI and then run from this app background process or background task.

Are windows phone 7 apps compatible on windows phone 8 devices?

very straight forward question. My company has developed a windows phone 7 app and have been testing it on a windows phone 7 device. Can we safely assume that the same app will be backwards compatible and work seamlessly on a windows phone 8 device such as a Nokia Lumia 920?
Thanks in advance!
Yes it will work. But it won't take advantage of all the WP8 features like a real WP8 app would. I'd suggest that you create a copy of the project and update it to WP8 for a better performence. Also replace any listboxes with LongListSelectors for example.
In most scenarios it should just work, but you should check this list of known breaking changes and you should also test your app on new devices thoroughly, just in case.
For example FMRadio class is no longer working on WP8 and there are other similar issues:
App platform compatibility for Windows Phone

How to use phone gap in windows phone 7 mobile application development?

I am iphone and android developer.I know how to use phone gap for iphone app and android app development.But I am new for windows phone 7 app development using phonegap.I dont know how to start windows phone 7 application development using phone gap.
Please give me advice for this query.
Thanks in advance.
Looks like PhoneGap doesn't support Windows Phone yet.
This post seems to suggest its close though and there is an alpha/beta you can start developing
http://programmersgoodies.com/phonegap-for-windows-phone-7
PhoneGap support for Windows Phone 7 is still in a "pre-alpha" state.
From a practical stand it's not realistic to start developing with it. Some people have started (and apparently submitted apps based on it) but there is no guarantee of future compatibility with what they've done.
When available, it will also only support phones running Mango.

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