Build & Run

Requirements

Mark::Blocks is a Metro / Modern styled Markdown editor targeting the Windows 8.1 era, built on the WinRT platform. Prepare the following development environment:

• Visual Studio 2019 / 2022 (with the “Windows 8.1 / Windows Phone 8.1 tools” and multi-platform shared project support installed)
• Windows 8.1 SDK and Windows Phone 8.1 SDK
• .NET Framework 4.5.1 or later
• Windows 10 / 11 recommended as the host OS, for emulators and deployment

Note: The Windows 8.1 / Windows Phone 8.1 tools must be ticked manually under “Individual Components” in modern Visual Studio installers. If the installer no longer offers them, use an older VS 2017/2015 to build.

Get the Source

git clone https://github.com/A-BenLi06/MetroMarkdownEditor.git
cd MetroMarkdownEditor

Solution Structure

MetroMarkdownEditor.sln
└─ MetroMarkdownEditor/
   ├─ MetroMarkdownEditor.Shared/   # Shared code (VMs, services, converters)
   ├─ MetroMarkdownEditor.Windows/  # Windows 8.1+ desktop/tablet
   └─ MetroMarkdownEditor.WindowsPhone/  # Windows Phone 8.1+

All three projects share the code in Shared; platform-specific UI lives in each project.

Restore Dependencies

The solution depends on the following NuGet packages, restored automatically by Visual Studio on first open:

• MarkDig 0.15.5 (the last version supporting Windows Phone 8.1)
• KaTeX 0.11.1
• highlight.js (front-end asset, atom-one-min light/dark)
• Mermaid 7.x

Tip: If restore fails, check that the nuget.org source is reachable under “Tools -> NuGet Package Manager -> Package Manager Settings”, then run “Restore NuGet Packages” on the solution.

Build & Deploy

1. Open MetroMarkdownEditor.sln.
2. In Configuration Manager pick the target platform: x86, x64, or ARM (for RT / Phone hardware).
3. Pick the startup project:
   • MetroMarkdownEditor.Windows to debug the desktop / tablet experience.
   • MetroMarkdownEditor.WindowsPhone to debug the phone experience and immersive mode.
4. Press F5 to deploy to the local machine or an emulator; Ctrl+F5 starts without attaching the debugger.

Sideloading & Device Deployment

Windows 8.1 / Windows Phone 8.1 require a developer unlock before sideloading:

• Windows: activate a developer license with the Windows Phone Developer Registration / Show Windows Developer License Status tools.
• Windows Phone: unlock the phone via Windows Phone Developer Registration.

When deploying to ARM devices (e.g. Surface RT, Lumia family), switch the platform to ARM and connect the device.

Next Steps

• Read Platforms for per-platform differences.
• Read the Feature Overview and the User Guide to get going.