We know now that Windows 8 will feature both a Metro-based interface for tablets and a more traditional desktop for laptops and PCs. While it's clear that excitement has been mounting for the next iteration of Microsoft's flagship operating system, another crucial piece of the equation is the interest of developers who will build the next big thing on Windows 8 or port popular apps over.

Overall developer response to Windows 8 appears to be positive at the moment, based on the various reports filtering in. Software developers that were approached expressed confidence that the features that were revealed in Windows 8 to date will help Microsoft in the tablet space, and have praise for Microsoft's prioritizing of the touch interface, according to InfoWorld.

David Nakamura, director of quality assurance at data collection solutions company Mi-Co, put it this way: "What's really neat about Windows 8 is it goes from high-end desktop machines all the way down to smaller-size tablets and slates."

Of course, with the Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview just released at last week's BUILD Conference, it may be another couple of weeks yet before a more complete verdict can be arrived at. On this front, interns who were recruited to build various applications to demonstrate Windows 8's capabilities are already coming forward to express that their initial trepidation over developing with the new Metro apps and WinRT proved unfounded.

Addressing worries over the relevance of Microsoft's C#, intern Ted Driggs told PC Mag: "One thing I was worried about when I heard the new plans was that if JavaScript's the new standard, were C# programmers going to have to write like JavaScript programmers? The answer was resoundingly no. These APIs felt like C# APIs and took advantage of the language. C# is a first-class citizen."

For more:
- check out this article at InfoWorld
- check out this article at The Register
- check out this article at PC Mag

Related Articles:
Can ARM-powered Windows 8 defeat the iPad?
Microsoft Office's touch-based, Metro-style makeover
Does Windows 8 mark the post-post-PC era?
Excitement mounts for Windows 8 tablet