Concurrently using WinRT and Win32 in a C++ application

Question

We are wanting to build an application which can also be deployed as a Service (with the UI switched off) – and the direction we are WANTING to take is:

1. Build the core application using Windows APIs i.e. Win32 APIs (for multi-threading, communication, disk-IO, timer routines – including interfacing with device for network interfaces, sleep/wakeup, and other life-cycle events)
2. Build the UI components ‘only’ using WinUI 3 (for all Visual UI including Printing, and User interaction)

We are expecting the shelf-life of our architecture to be several years from today for current and future evolutions of Windows.

From what we have read and understood so far, our interpretation is that WinRT (which is the gateway to WinUI 3) provides interfaces on top of Windows API (Win32) and does not conflict with being concurrently used in the same application. Is this true? Also, we would like to understand if there is anything we should be particularly careful about in this regard.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Hi @abhishek.m ,
Welcome to Micrsoft Q&A!

Winui3 C++ project supports Win32 API and WinRT.
The technical route you choose is feasible, and you can refer to the documentation below for relevant precautions.
Create your first WinUI 3 (Windows App SDK) project

Thank you.
Junjie

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