Microsoft updates the Win32 API to support better calls using C# and Rust

by ddos ·

Win32 API is the construction platform of Windows traditional desktop software. It is suitable for applications that need to directly access system functions and hardware. Developers using C and C++ can easily access these APIs for development.

However, other programming languages ​​such as C# and Rust need to be packaged or bound to access Win32 APIs. Although it can be used by developers, it is not convenient. In order to make Win32 APIs used by more developers, Microsoft today announced the new Win32Metadata project.

According to Microsoft’s statement, the purpose of the Win32Metadata project is to provide a complete description of the Win32 API in the metadata so that it can be mapped to any language in an automatic manner, thereby improving the correctness of writing code and minimizing maintenance overhead.

Through this project, developers will get a Windows metadata file (winmd) published on the Nuget.org website, which contains metadata describing the entire Win32 API. It is necessary to build language predictions on the basis of these metadata so that developers can call Win32 APIs from their programming habits.

Microsoft’s update of the Win32 API is actually very worthy of attention. After all, the company has almost turned its attention to the UWP universal platform and neglected the Win32 platform.

Of course, after UWP gradually became desolate, Microsoft hoped to convert Win32 software into a universal platform application on the Microsoft Store.

After these attempts had no effect, now Microsoft seems to be re-focusing on the Win32 platform. After all, from reality, most software is built based on the Win32 API.

Source: Microsoft | Via: mspoweruser

Tags: RustWin32 APIs