Windows App SDK Samples

The Windows Input and Composition Samples repository provides code examples and demos for building high-performance, engaging user interfaces using the Windows App SDK.

This project focuses on the platform building blocks of the Fluent Design System, specifically leveraging the following namespaces:

• Microsoft.UI.Composition: For low-level visual composition and animations.
• Microsoft.UI.Input: For advanced input handling and interaction.

These samples are designed for developers working with WinUI 3 who want to move beyond standard XAML controls to create custom, fluid UI experiences.

The Photo Editor is a sample application designed to demonstrate image viewing and editing capabilities using the Windows App SDK. It showcases how to retrieve photos from the local Pictures library and apply various photo effects.

Key technical demonstrations include:

• XAML Layout: Basic, adaptive, and tailored layouts.
• Data Binding: Using the {x:Bind} markup extension.
• UI Customization: Styling and connected animations.
• Image Effects: Utilizing Windows.UI.Composition and the Microsoft.Graphics.Win2D NuGet package for immediate-mode 2D graphics rendering.
• Performance: Loading images via data virtualization to handle large collections efficiently.

The Windowing gallery samples demonstrate how to use the AppWindow class to manage an application's window. This includes managing window size, position, and title bar customization.

Title Bar Customization Note

Customizing a window's TitleBar using the AppWindowTitleBar APIs is only supported on Windows 11 or later. To ensure compatibility, you should check support using the IsCustomizationSupported method.

// Conceptual check for TitleBar customization support
if (appWindowTitleBar.IsCustomizationSupported()) 
{
    // Perform customization
}

This sample demonstrates the workflow for creating C# components that contain WinUI controls (such as UserControl and Custom Control) using C#/WinRT, and subsequently consuming those components in both C++ and C# applications.

Project Structure

• WinUICsComponent: The core C# Windows Runtime component library. It uses the Microsoft.Windows.CsWinRT NuGet package to generate the component.
• CppApp: A packaged C++ WinUI application that consumes the component.
• CppAppUnpackaged: An unpackaged C++ WinUI application that consumes the component.
• CsApp: A packaged C# WinUI application that consumes the component.

This sample demonstrates how to use the Windows App SDK Push Notifications APIs within an unpackaged application. It covers two primary workflows:

1. Requesting a WNS Channel URI: The app uses the Windows App SDK to obtain a unique WNS Channel URI. This URI identifies the specific app instance for a current user on a specific device, which an external app server uses to target notifications to that app.
2. Handling Activations: The app registers for both foreground and background activation to ensure it can respond to incoming notifications regardless of its current state.

These samples provide implementations for the Microsoft.UI.Input namespace, demonstrating how to handle user input in Windows applications. They specifically showcase:

• Usage of various Microsoft.UI.Input APIs.
• Handling of Keyboard events.
• Implementation of Keyboard accelerators using WinUI.