MSDN Documentation

Windows App SDK Overview

The Windows App SDK is the latest evolution of developer technologies for building Windows applications. It provides a unified set of APIs and tools that are available to all Windows applications, regardless of how they were created. This enables developers to build modern, high-quality Windows applications that leverage the latest platform features and deliver consistent experiences across different Windows versions.

What is the Windows App SDK?

The Windows App SDK is designed to address several key needs for Windows developers:

• Unified APIs: Provides a consistent set of APIs for common application development tasks, simplifying the development process.
• Modern UI: Enables the use of modern UI frameworks and controls, allowing for visually appealing and interactive user interfaces.
• Platform Features: Offers access to the latest Windows platform features, such as WinUI 3, Project Reunion, and more.
• Cross-Version Compatibility: Aims to provide a consistent development experience across a wide range of Windows versions.
• Developer Productivity: Focuses on improving developer workflows and reducing the complexity of building Windows applications.

Key Components

The Windows App SDK is comprised of several important components:

• WinUI 3: The latest native UI platform for Windows, providing modern controls, styles, and a fluent design language. It's the recommended way to build native Windows UIs.
• Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs: Access to a rich set of Windows Runtime APIs for interacting with the operating system and its features.
• Platform Components: Includes various runtime components and libraries that applications can depend on.
• Deployment Infrastructure: Mechanisms for deploying and updating applications that use the Windows App SDK.

Benefits of Using Windows App SDK

Adopting the Windows App SDK offers significant advantages:

• Modern Look and Feel: Build applications that align with the latest Windows design principles.
• Access to New Features: Leverage the newest capabilities of the Windows platform as they become available.
• Simplified Development: A more streamlined and unified development experience compared to legacy approaches.
• Future-Proofing: Develop applications that are well-positioned for the future of Windows development.

Getting Started

To start building applications with the Windows App SDK, you'll typically need:

1. Visual Studio: The latest version of Visual Studio with the appropriate workloads installed (e.g., ".NET desktop development" and "Universal Windows Platform development").
2. Windows App SDK Extension: Install the Windows App SDK extension for Visual Studio.
3. Create a New Project: Create a new project in Visual Studio using one of the Windows App SDK project templates (e.g., a WinUI 3 application).

For more detailed installation and setup instructions, please refer to the official Windows App SDK documentation.

Examples

Explore these resources to see the Windows App SDK in action:

The Windows App SDK represents a significant step forward in how developers build applications for Windows. By embracing its modern APIs and tools, you can create richer, more capable, and future-ready Windows experiences.