Windows Runtime (WinRT) is a platform-agnostic component and application architecture first introduced in
Windows 8
Windows 8 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012; it was subsequently made available for download via MSDN and TechNet on August 15, 2012, and later to ...
and
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth version of the Windows Server operating system by Microsoft, as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It is the server version of Windows based on Windows 8 and succe ...
in 2012. It is implemented in C++ and officially supports development in
C++
C++ (pronounced "C plus plus") is a high-level general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language, or "C with Classes". The language has expanded significan ...
(via
C++/WinRT
C++/WinRT is a C++ library for Microsoft's Windows Runtime platform, designed to provide access to modern Windows APIs. C++/WinRT is provided as a standard C++17 header file library, unlike C++/CX, which is an extension to C++ and requires a recen ...
,
C++/CX or WRL),
Rust/WinRT,
Python/WinRT,
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. As of 2022, 98% of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior, of ...
-
TypeScript
TypeScript is a free and open source programming language developed and maintained by Microsoft. It is a strict syntactical superset of JavaScript and adds optional static typing to the language. It is designed for the development of large app ...
, and the
managed code languages
C# and
Visual Basic .NET
Visual Basic, originally called Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET), is a multi-paradigm, object-oriented programming language, implemented on .NET, Mono, and the .NET Framework. Microsoft launched VB.NET in 2002 as the successor to its original Visua ...
(VB.NET).
WinRT is not a runtime in a traditional sense but rather a language-independent
application binary interface based on
COM to allow APIs to be consumed from multiple languages, with services usually provided by a full-blown runtime, such as type activation. Apps using the Windows Runtime may run inside a
sandboxed environment to allow greater security and stability and can natively support both
x86
x86 (also known as 80x86 or the 8086 family) is a family of complex instruction set computer (CISC) instruction set architectures initially developed by Intel based on the Intel 8086 microprocessor and its 8088 variant. The 8086 was intr ...
and
ARM
In human anatomy, the arm refers to the upper limb in common usage, although academically the term specifically means the upper arm between the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and the elbow joint. The distal part of the upper limb between th ...
. WinRT components are designed with interoperability among multiple languages and APIs in mind, including native, managed and scripting languages. Built-in APIs provided by Windows which use the WinRT ABI are commonly known as WinRT APIs; however, anyone can use the WinRT ABI for their own APIs.
Technology
WinRT is implemented in the programming language
C++
C++ (pronounced "C plus plus") is a high-level general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language, or "C with Classes". The language has expanded significan ...
and is
object-oriented
Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of " objects", which can contain data and code. The data is in the form of fields (often known as attributes or ''properties''), and the code is in the form of p ...
by design.
Its underlying technology, the
Windows API
The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces (APIs) available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. The name Windows API collectively refers to several different platform implementations th ...
(Win32 API), is written mostly in the language
C. It is an
unmanaged application binary interface based on
Component Object Model (COM) that allows interfacing from multiple languages, as does COM. However, the API definitions are stored in
.winmd
files, which are encoded in
ECMA 335 metadata format, which
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework (pronounced as "''dot net"'') is a proprietary software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It was the predominant implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) until bein ...
also uses with a few modifications. For WinRT components implemented in native code, the metadata file only contains the definition of methods, classes, interfaces and enumerations and the implementation is provided in a separate DLL.
This common metadata format makes it easier to consume WinRT APIs from .NET apps with simpler syntax than
P/Invoke. Windows provides a set of built-in APIs which are built on the WinRT ABI which provide everything from the XAML-based
WinUI
Windows UI Library (WinUI codenamed "Jupiter", and also known as UWP XAML and WinRT XAML) is a user interface API that is part of the Windows Runtime programming model that forms the backbone of Universal Windows Platform apps (formerly known a ...
library and device access such as camera, microphone etc...
The previous
C++/CX (Component Extensions) language, which borrows some
C++/CLI
C++/CLI is a variant of the C++ programming language, modified for Common Language Infrastructure. It has been part of Visual Studio 2005 and later, and provides interoperability with other .NET languages such as C#. Microsoft created C++/CLI ...
syntax, was introduced for writing and consuming WinRT components with less
glue code
Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation.
The use of adhesives offers certain advant ...
visible to the programmer, relative to classic COM programming in C++, and imposes fewer restrictions relative to C++/CLI on mixing types. The Component Extensions of C++/CX are recommended for use at the API-boundary only, not for other purposes.
Regular C++ (with COM-specific discipline) can also be used to program with WinRT components, with the help of the Windows Runtime C++ Template Library (WRL), which is similar in purpose to what
Active Template Library provides for COM. In 2019, Microsoft deprecated C++/CX in favor of the
C++/WinRT
C++/WinRT is a C++ library for Microsoft's Windows Runtime platform, designed to provide access to modern Windows APIs. C++/WinRT is provided as a standard C++17 header file library, unlike C++/CX, which is an extension to C++ and requires a recen ...
header library.
Most WinRT applications run within a sandbox and need explicit user approval to access critical OS features and underlying hardware. By default, file access is restricted to several predetermined locations, such as the directories Documents or Pictures.
WinRT applications are packaged in the .appx and later the .msix
file format; based upon
Open Packaging Conventions
The Open Packaging Conventions (OPC) is a container-file technology initially created by Microsoft to store a combination of XML and non-XML files that together form a single entity such as an Open XML Paper Specification (OpenXPS) document. OPC-b ...
, it uses a
ZIP format with added XML files.
WinRT applications are distributed mostly through an
application store named
Microsoft Store
Microsoft Store (formerly known as Windows Store) is a digital distribution platform operated by Microsoft. It started as an app store for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 as the primary means of distributing Universal Windows Platform app ...
, where Windows apps (termed ''Windows Store apps'') can be purchased and downloaded by users. WinRT apps can only be
sideloaded from outside Windows Store on Windows 8 or RT systems that are part of a
Windows domain, or equipped with a special activation key obtained from Microsoft.
These restrictions were lifted in the Windows 10 November Update, where users can freely sideload any app signed with a trusted certificate by enabling a setting.
In a major departure from Win32 and similarly to
.NET Framework 4.5
Microsoft started development on the .NET Framework in the late 1990s originally under the name of Next Generation Windows Services (NGWS). By late 2001 the first beta versions of .NET 1.0 were released. The first version of .NET Framework was ...
, most APIs which are expected to take significant time to complete are implemented as
asynchronous. When calling a Windows Runtime asynchronous function, the task is started on another thread or process and the function returns immediately, freeing the app to perform other tasks while waiting for results. The asynchronous model requires new programming language constructs. Each language provides their own way to consume
asynchronous APIs. Parts of the built-in API needing asynchronous access include on-screen messages and dialogs, file access, Internet connectivity, sockets, streams, devices and services, and calendar, contacts and appointments.
Services
Metadata
The metadata describes the APIs written using the WinRT ABI. It defines a
programming model
A programming model is an execution model coupled to an API or a particular pattern of code. In this style, there are actually two execution models in play: the execution model of the base programming language and the execution model of the prog ...
that makes it possible to write
object-oriented
Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of " objects", which can contain data and code. The data is in the form of fields (often known as attributes or ''properties''), and the code is in the form of p ...
code that can be shared across
programming language
A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Most programming languages are text-based formal languages, but they may also be graphical. They are a kind of computer language.
The description of a programming ...
s, and enables services like
reflection Reflection or reflexion may refer to:
Science and technology
* Reflection (physics), a common wave phenomenon
** Specular reflection, reflection from a smooth surface
*** Mirror image, a reflection in a mirror or in water
** Signal reflection, in ...
.
Herb Sutter,
C++
C++ (pronounced "C plus plus") is a high-level general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language, or "C with Classes". The language has expanded significan ...
expert at
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...
, explained during his session on C++ at the 2011
Build conference that the WinRT metadata is in the same format as
CLI metadata.
Native code (i.e., processor-specific machine code) cannot contain metadata, so it is stored in a separate metadata file that can be reflected like ordinary
CLI assemblies. Since it is the same format as CLI metadata, WinRT APIs can be used from managed
CLI languages
CLI languages are computer programming languages that are used to produce libraries and programs that conform to the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) specifications. With some notable exceptions, most CLI languages compile entirely to the Comm ...
as if it was just a .NET API.
Type system
WinRT has a rich
object-oriented
Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm based on the concept of " objects", which can contain data and code. The data is in the form of fields (often known as attributes or ''properties''), and the code is in the form of p ...
class-based
type system
In computer programming, a type system is a logical system comprising a set of rules that assigns a property called a type to every "term" (a word, phrase, or other set of symbols). Usually the terms are various constructs of a computer progr ...
that is built on the metadata. It supports constructs with corresponding constructs in the .NET framework:
classes,
methods,
properties
Property is the ownership of land, resources, improvements or other tangible objects, or intellectual property.
Property may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Property (mathematics)
Philosophy and science
* Property (philosophy), in philosophy an ...
,
delegates, and
events
Event may refer to:
Gatherings of people
* Ceremony, an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion
* Convention (meeting), a gathering of individuals engaged in some common interest
* Event management, the organization of ev ...
.
One of the major additions to WinRT relative to COM is the cross-
application binary interface (ABI), .NET-style
generics. Only interfaces and delegates can be generic, runtime classes and methods in them can't. Generic interfaces are also known as parameterized interfaces. In C++/CX, they are declared using the keyword
generic
with a syntax very similar to that of keyword
template
. WinRT classes (ref classes) can also be genericized using C++ templates, but only template instantiations can be exported to .winmd metadata (with some
name mangling
In compiler construction, name mangling (also called name decoration) is a technique used to solve various problems caused by the need to resolve unique names for programming entities in many modern programming languages.
It provides a way of e ...
), unlike WinRT generics which preserve their genericity in the metadata. WinRT also provides a set of interfaces for generic
containers that parallel those in the
C++ Standard Library
The C standard library or libc is the standard library for the C programming language, as specified in the ISO C standard. ISO/IEC (2018). '' ISO/IEC 9899:2018(E): Programming Languages - C §7'' Starting from the original ANSI C standard, it was ...
, and languages provide some reciprocal (back-and-forth) conversion functions. The consumption of WinRT collections in .NET languages (e.g., C# and VB) and in JavaScript is more transparent than in C++, with automated mappings into their natural equivalents occurring behind the scenes. When authoring a WinRT component in a managed language, some extra, COM-style rules must be followed, e.g. .NET framework collection types cannot be declared as return types, but only the WinRT interfaces that they implement can be used at the component boundary.
WinRT components
Classes that are compiled to target the WinRT are called ''WinRT components''. They are classes that can be written in any supported language and for any supported platform. The key is the metadata. This metadata makes it possible to interface with the component from any other WinRT language. The runtime requires WinRT components that are built with .NET Framework to use the defined interface types or .NET type interfaces, which automatically map to the first named. Inheritance is as yet not supported in managed WinRT components, except for XAML classes.
Programming interfaces
Programs and libraries targeted for the WinRT runtime can be created and consumed from several platforms and programming languages. Notably
C/
C++
C++ (pronounced "C plus plus") is a high-level general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language, or "C with Classes". The language has expanded significan ...
(either with language extensions offering first-class support for WinRT concepts, or with a lower-level template library allowing to write code in standard C++), .NET (
C# and
Visual Basic .NET
Visual Basic, originally called Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET), is a multi-paradigm, object-oriented programming language, implemented on .NET, Mono, and the .NET Framework. Microsoft launched VB.NET in 2002 as the successor to its original Visua ...
(VB.NET)) and
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. As of 2022, 98% of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior, of ...
. This is made possible by the metadata. In WinRT terminology, a
language binding
In programming and software design, binding is an application programming interface (API) that provides glue code specifically made to allow a programming language to use a foreign library or operating system service (one that is not native to th ...
is termed a ''language projection.''
C++ (C++/WinRT, Component Extensions, WRL)
Standard C++ is a ''first-class citizen'' of the WinRT platform. As of Windows 10, version 1803, the Windows SDK contains C++/WinRT. C++/WinRT is an entirely standard modern C++17 language projection for Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs, implemented as a header-file-based library, and designed to provide first-class access to the modern Windows API. With C++/WinRT, Windows Runtime APIs can be authored and consumed using any standards-compliant C++17 compiler. WinRT is a native platform and supports any native (and standard) C++ code, so that a C++ developer can reuse existing native C/C++ libraries. With C++/WinRT, there are no language extensions.
Prior to C++/WinRT being officially released in the Windows SDK, from October 2016, Microsoft offered on
GitHub
GitHub, Inc. () is an Internet hosting service for software development and version control using Git. It provides the distributed version control of Git plus access control, bug tracking, software feature requests, task management, continu ...
C++/WinRT. It does not rely on C++/CX code, with the result of producing smaller binaries and faster code.
There are two other legacy options for using WinRT from C++: Windows Runtime C++ Template Library (WRL), an
ATL-style template library (similar to
Windows Template Library or WTL), and
C++/CX (C++ with Component Extensions) which resembles C++/CLI. Because of the internal consumption requirements at Microsoft, WRL is exception-free, meaning its return-value discipline is
HRESULT-based just like that of COM. C++/CX on the other hand wraps-up calls to WinRT with code that does error checking and throws exceptions as appropriate.
C++/CX has several extensions that enable integration with the platform and its type system. The syntax resembles the one of
C++/CLI
C++/CLI is a variant of the C++ programming language, modified for Common Language Infrastructure. It has been part of Visual Studio 2005 and later, and provides interoperability with other .NET languages such as C#. Microsoft created C++/CLI ...
although it produces native (although not standard) code and metadata that integrates with the runtime. For example, WinRT objects may be allocated with
ref new
, which is the counterpart of
gcnew
from C++/CLI. The hat operator
^
retains its meaning, however in the case where both the caller and callee are written in C++ and living in the same process, a hat reference is simply a pointer to a vptr to a
virtual method table (vtable, VMT).
[Under the covers with C++ for Metro style apps](_blank)
with Deon Brewis at //Build
Along with C++/CX, relative to traditional C++ COM programming, are
partial classes, again inspired by .NET. These allow instance
WinRT XAML code to be translated into C++ code by tools, and then combined with human-written code to produce the complete class while allowing clean separation of the machine-generated and human-edited parts of a class implementation into different files.
.NET
The
.NET Framework
The .NET Framework (pronounced as "''dot net"'') is a proprietary software framework developed by Microsoft that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It was the predominant implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) until bein ...
and the
Common Language Runtime (CLR) are integrated into the WinRT as a subplatform. It has influenced and set the standards for the ecosystem through the metadata format and libraries. The CLR provides services like
JIT-compilation code and
garbage collection
Waste collection is a part of the process of waste management. It is the transfer of solid waste from the point of use and disposal to the point of treatment or landfill. Waste collection also includes the curbside collection of recyclabl ...
. WinRT applications using .NET languages use the XAML-based
WinUI
Windows UI Library (WinUI codenamed "Jupiter", and also known as UWP XAML and WinRT XAML) is a user interface API that is part of the Windows Runtime programming model that forms the backbone of Universal Windows Platform apps (formerly known a ...
, and are primarily written in C#, VB.NET, and for the first time for XAML, with
native code
In computer programming, machine code is any low-level programming language, consisting of machine language instructions, which are used to control a computer's central processing unit (CPU). Each instruction causes the CPU to perform a ver ...
using C++/CX. Although not yet officially supported, programs can also be written in other .NET languages. With .NET 5, Microsoft removed the built-in WinRT support and instead created CsWinRT, a tool that generates interop code for accessing Windows Runtime APIs similar to how C++/WinRT works.
= Limitations
=
Classes defined in WinRT components that are built in managed .NET languages must be declared as
sealed
, so they cannot be derived from. However, non-sealed WinRT classes defined elsewhere can be inherited from in .NET, their virtual methods overridden, and so on; but the inherited managed class must still be sealed.
Members that interface with another language must have a signature with WinRT types or a managed type that is convertible to these.
JavaScript
WinRT applications can also be coded using
HTML
The HyperText Markup Language or HTML is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. It can be assisted by technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and scripting languages such as JavaSc ...
with
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. As of 2022, 98% of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior, of ...
in
code-behind, which are run using the
Trident
A trident is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm.
The trident is the weapon of Poseidon, or Neptune, the God of the Sea in classical mythology. The trident may occasionally be held by other mari ...
rendering engine and
Chakra JavaScript engine, both of which are also used by
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer (formerly Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Internet Explorer, commonly abbreviated IE or MSIE) is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft which was used in the Windows line of operating systems ( ...
. When coding a WinRT app in JavaScript, its features are adapted to follow JavaScript naming conventions, and namespaces are also mapped to JavaScript objects.
Other languages
Microsoft is in the process of projecting WinRT APIs to languages other than C++. One example is Rust/WinRT, an interface for programs written in
Rust
Rust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO( ...
to consume and author WinRT APIs. Rust/WinRT is part of
Windows App SDK (formerly Project Reunion), a Microsoft effort to reconcile traditional Windows desktop and the UWP app model.
Bridges
With the introduction of the
Universal Windows Platform
Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is a computing platform created by Microsoft and first introduced in Windows 10. The purpose of this platform is to help develop universal apps that run on Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile (discontinued), Windo ...
(UWP), the platform has received many API bridges that allow programs originally developed for other platforms to be ported easily while taking advantage of UWP features. Microsoft has provided bridges for
Android (defunct since 2016),
iOS
iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...
(
Cocoa Touch),
Progressive Web Apps,
Silverlight, as well as traditional Windows desktop apps (using MSIX packaging from the
Windows App SDK).
API
WinRT comes with an
application programming interface (API) in the form of a
class library
In computer science, a library is a collection of non-volatile resources used by computer programs, often for software development. These may include configuration data, documentation, help data, message templates, pre-written code and subro ...
that exposes the features of Windows 8 for the developer, like its immersive interface API. It is accessible and consumable from any supported language.
Runtime classes
The Windows Runtime classes is a set SDKs that provide access to all functionality from the
XAML
Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML ) is a declarative XML-based language that Microsoft developed for initializing structured values and objects. It is available under Microsoft's Open Specification Promise.
XAML is used extensively ...
parser to the camera function. The SDKs are implemented as native C/C++ libraries (unmanaged).
Naming conventions
The naming conventions for the components (classes and other members) in the API are heavily influenced by the .NET naming conventions which uses
camel case
Camel case (sometimes stylized as camelCase or CamelCase, also known as camel caps or more formally as medial capitals) is the practice of writing phrases without spaces or punctuation. The format indicates the separation of words with a single ...
(specifically PascalCase). Microsoft recommends users to follow these rules in case where no others are given.
These conventions are projected differently in some languages, like JavaScript, which converts it to its conventions and the other way around. This is to give a native and consistent experience regardless of the programming language.
Restrictions and rules
Since Windows Runtime is projected to various languages, some restrictions on fundamental data types exist so as to host all such languages. Programmers must be careful with the behavior of those types when used with public access (for method parameters, method return values, properties, etc.).
;Basic types
: In .NET languages and C++, a rich set of data types exists, representing various numerals.
: In JavaScript, a
Number
can only represent up to 53 bits of precision.
: In WinRT, the only lacking numeral data type is 8-bit signed integer relative to .NET and C++. JavaScript developers must be careful when dealing with big numbers while coding for WinRT.
;Strings
: Strings are immutable in .NET and JavaScript, but mutable in C++.
: A null pointer passed as a string to WinRT by C++ is converted to an empty string
: In .Net, null being passed as a string to WinRT is converted to an empty string
: In JavaScript, null being passed as a string to WinRT is converted to a string with the word
null
. This is due to JavaScript's keyword
null
being represented as a null object. Similar results occur when passing
undefined
to WinRT from JavaScript.
;Structs
: In .NET and C++, structs are value types, and such a struct can contain any type in it.
: JavaScript does not directly support structs.
: In WinRT, use of structs is allowed only for containing types that have value semantics, including numerals, strings, and other structs. Pointers or interface references are disallowed.
;References
: In .NET, objects are passed by reference, whereas numerals and structs are passed by value.
: In C++, all types can be passed by reference or value.
: In WinRT, interfaces are passed by reference; all other types are passed by value.
;Arrays
: In .NET, C++, and JavaScript arrays are reference types.
: In WinRT, arrays are value types.
;Events
: In .NET and C++, clients subscribe to events using
+=
operator.
: In JavaScript,
addEventListener
function or setting
on
property is used to subscribe to events.
: In WinRT, all languages can use their own way to subscribe to events.
;Collections
: Some .NET collections map directly to WinRT collections.
: WinRT ''Vector'' type resembles arrays and the array syntax is used to consume them.
: WinRT ''Map'' type is a key/value pair collection, and is projected as Dictionary in .NET languages.
;Method overloading
: All WinRT languages (.NET, C++, JavaScript) support overloading on parameters
: .NET and C++ also support overloading on type.
: In WinRT, only parameter number is used for overloading.
;Asynchrony
: All WinRT methods are designed such that any method taking longer than 50 milliseconds is an async method.
: The established naming pattern to distinguish asynchronous methods is
">Noun>sync
. For the full runtime library, all methods that have a chance to last longer than 50 ms are implemented as asynchronous methods only.
Windows Phone Runtime
Windows Phone 8.1 uses a version of the Windows Runtime named the ''Windows Phone Runtime''. It enables developing applications in C# and VB.NET, and Windows Runtime components in C++/CX. Although WP8 brought limited support, the platform did eventually converge with
Windows 8.1 in
Windows Phone 8.1.
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8 has limited support for developing and consuming Windows Runtime components through ''Windows Phone Runtime''. Many of the Windows Runtime APIs in Windows 8 that handle core operating system functions have been ported to Windows Phone 8.
Support for developing native games using C++/CX and DirectX has been added, by request from the game development industry.
However, the Windows Phone XAML Framework is still based on the same
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight is a discontinued application framework designed for writing and running rich web applications, similar to Adobe's runtime, Adobe Flash. A plugin for Silverlight is still available for a very small number of browsers. W ...
framework, as in Windows Phone 7, for backward compatibility. Thus, , XAML development is impossible in C++/CX. Development using either HTML5 or WinJS is unsupported on Windows Phone 8.
Windows Phone 8.1
Windows Runtime support on Windows Phone 8.1 converges with Windows 8.1. The release brings a full Windows Runtime API to the platform, including support for
WinRT XAML, and language bindings for
C++/CX, and
HTML5
HTML5 is a markup language used for structuring and presenting content on the World Wide Web. It is the fifth and final major HTML version that is a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendation. The current specification is known as the HTML ...
-
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. As of 2022, 98% of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior, of ...
. There is also a project type called ''Universal apps'' to enable apps to share code across 8.1 versions of Windows Phone and Windows.
The Windows Phone 8 Silverlight Framework has been updated. It can exploit some of the new features in the Windows Runtime.
Windows Phone Runtime uses the
AppX package format from Windows 8, after formerly using Silverlight
XAP.
References
External links
*
{{Microsoft Windows components
.NET Framework implementations
Computer-related introductions in 2012
Windows APIs
Windows technology
Application programming interfaces