Earlier this week it was reported that Microsoft developers intend to speed up Windows 11 applications built on the Windows App SDK using Native AOT (code compilation before program execution) technology. Now it has become known that the branded digital content store Microsoft Store will be optimized in a similar way, due to which it will receive a significant performance increase.
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According to reports, Microsoft is offering app developers a new way to migrate their software products from UWP to .NET 9 and Native AOT. This means that developers will be able to modernize their applications in two stages instead of making one massive change. Microsoft offers to transfer applications to .NET 9 and Native AOT, which will facilitate the subsequent transition to WinUI 3.
According to Microsoft, .NET 9 and Native AOT apps perform better than .NET Native UWP products. In addition, Native AOT technology continues to be actively developed and will continue to be optimized in the future. This means that at some point, application developers will need to migrate their products to .NET 9 and Native AOT to improve performance.
A post on the Microsoft Developer Blog notes that this is exactly the migration that the Microsoft Store is currently undergoing. The platform is moving to .NET 9, and a new version of the application running on Native AOT will be available “in the near future.” When exactly this will happen is not specified. Most likely, before the release of a stable version of the application, it will be tested among participants in the Windows Insider programs.