This repository hosts a template Visual Studio 2019 solution to author API in C++/WinRT as described in the following MSDN article: Author APIs with C++/WinRT.
The Api project is a DLL library project which includes a WinRT IDL definition (see Introduction to Microsoft Interface Definition Language 3.0) which is compiled as a part of build process and a custom step generates module a implementation source code files to link the project into WinRT component library. The project produces .DLL code and .WINMD metadata output.
Consume project is straightforward consumption project in C++/WinRT which is consuming the API using a hook in activation factory lookup. The activation factory is loaded from a side loaded API library.
SharpConsume project is a standard .NET Framework console application project referencing WinRT component and importing API definitions from metadata.
As of now the template is minimalistic and is used with:
- Visual Studio 2022
- Windows 10/11 SDK 10.0.26000
- C++/WinRT shipped with Windows 10/11 SDK
- x64 platform
It is assumed that the project is generally compatible with Win32 and ARM, ARM64 platforms too.
With SDK .26000 cppwinrt does not seem to generate the projection automatically as a part of Custom Build Step.
One native prompt and execute with placeholders expanded:
cppwinrt.exe -in "$(TargetDir)$(TargetName).winmd" -reference "$(WindowsSDK_UnionMetadataPath)\Windows.winmd" -comp "$(ProjectDir)Component" -out "$(ProjectDir)Projection"
This will create the projection files and the code will be buidlable from there.