Is there any practical step-by-step guide on how to achieve this? Or at least any sample website that offers installable downloads in APPX/UWP format?
The last time I tried it wasn't possible at all without some PowerShell black voodoo scripts with some temporary certificates and other royal pain points rendering the whole technology totally useless. I could not even run my own appx apps because they should only be run "in container context".
UPDATE: Just tried to create a blank app, packaged it into .APPX and run it on my machine by double-clicking the resulting APPX file. Here is what I've got:
"Either you need a new certificate installed for this app package, or you need a new app package with trusted certificates. Your system administrator or the app developer can help. A certificate chain processed, but terminated in a root certificate which isn't trusted (0x800B0109)"
What? Totally useless. I've just compiled MY application on MY machine and I even cannot run it.
Why not replicate the UAC known/unknown publisher model? And those MS people are then curious why their latest greatest UWP/Store platforms aren't getting enough traction.
UPDATE 2: tried to run my compiled .EXE file without APPX packaging.
Here is what I've got:
"This application can only run in the context of an app container."
Duh. Universal Windows Platform they say? Conquer the world? Nope. It all stops at "the context of an app container".
UPDATE 3:
Settings -> Update and Security -> "For Developers" -> Developer mode ("Install any signed app")
Of course I did this. Does not work as described above. All I want is to run MY just-compiled app without the hoops in loops, for starters. Yep, installing a temp certificate probably would solve this but its a PITA because it expires and requires ceremony. Won't waste my time, sorry. See ya at the next MS Conf. Hope .exe files will be launchable again till that time.