Microsoft’s XAML team moved into the Windows division ahead of Windows 8

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Microsoft’s XAML technologies team is moving directly into the Windows division.

The software giant announced the change in an internal memo to employees earlier this week. Senior vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft, S. Somasegar, announced the changes to the entire developer division at Microsoft. Somasegar praised the Client and Mobile teams at Microsoft and announced the following adjustments:

The team working on XAML technologies for Windows will move to Windows.
The team working on XAML technologies for Windows Phone, Xbox and browser plugin will move to Windows Phone.
The Client and Mobile tools teams, including Windows Phone tools and XAML tools, will stay in DevDiv.
“These changes are all effective immediately,” reads an internal memo obtained by WinRumors. “There is a lot of very exciting and critical work underway as part of our next wave of platform releases and I am very eagerly looking forward to seeing the team’s work in the hands of our developers and customers.” In a follow-up memo, Julie Larson-Green, corporate vice president of program management for the Windows Experience at Microsoft, explained the XAML team transfer in more detail. “While the team has been working side-by-side with the Windows team for the entire project, this step brings them into our team formally,” said Larson-Green. ”The team will continue their work on Windows 8 as planned and will join our Developer Experience (DEVX) team.”

Microsoft’s DevX team are currently responsible for the implementation of AppX inside Windows 8. It is believed that the software giant is preparing an application model codenamed “Jupiter”. The model would allow developers to create native applications that can be easily deployed using AppX packaging. The container method is similar to Microsoft’s Silverlight-based application package (XAP). Microsoft’s confirmation that the XAML team are working closely on Windows 8 is an interesting one. XAML is the markup language used in writing Silverlight and WPF applications. Microsoft revealed its new Start Screen user interface using HTML5 and JavaScript earlier this month. The demonstration has created an uncertainty amongst Microsoft’s developer community. A number of agitated developers have made their thoughts and feelings clear in Microsoft’s own developer forums. Developers want to know how they will be able to target the new Windows 8 UI with native and Silverlight based applications. The software giant is refusing to speak any further about Windows 8 but promises to reveal all at the BUILD Windows developer conference in September. Judging by the leaked memo, developers can feel a little more comfortable knowing that the XAML team is now part of Windows and ultimately Windows 8.