The Windows App SDK empowers all Windows desktop apps with modern Windows UI, APIs, and platform features, including back-compat support, shipped via NuGet.
Star History
Momentum
+117
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
4
PER DAY
#63
MOST-STARRED C++
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +28 | +117 | +360 |
| Per day | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Forks gained | +2 | +10 | +24 |
WindowsAppSDK gained 117 stars in the last 30 days, about 4 a day, and now has 4.7K. It is about 6 years old and has averaged roughly 782 stars a year. It ranks #63 among C++ repositories and #1,123 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
2
DAYS ON TRENDING
#1567
BEST RANK
Sep 27, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
WindowsAppSDK has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #1567. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
WindowsAppSDK is an open-source project written in C++: The Windows App SDK empowers all Windows desktop apps with modern Windows UI, APIs, and platform features, including back-compat support, shipped via NuGet.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in cpp, csharp, desktop. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in C++ for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ git clone https://github.com/microsoft/WindowsAppSDK.git
cd WindowsAppSDK
⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
C++20 compliant compiler (GCC 11+, Clang 13+, MSVC)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
WindowsAppSDK coordinates its core functionality through a modular C++ pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Modern Web Interfaces
Build dynamic, responsive user experiences with component-driven architecture.
Enterprise Design Systems
Standardize design tokens, accessible widgets, and themes across engineering teams.
Interactive Data Dashboards
Render real-time telemetry, user feeds, and analytics with sub-millisecond updates.
Cross-Platform Web Apps
Deploy performant single-page applications optimized for both mobile and desktop browsers.
🚀 Getting Started
Install WindowsAppSDK using your package manager: `git clone https://github.com/microsoft/WindowsAppSDK.git`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for WindowsAppSDK.
Import WindowsAppSDK into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `WindowsAppSDK --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with C++, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
microsoft/WindowsAppSDK is currently ranked #1,123 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1,117 | ministackorg/ministack | Python | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,119 | sebastienros/jint | C# | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,120 | dokuwiki/dokuwiki | PHP | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,121 | webonyx/graphql-php | PHP | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,122 | opnsense/core | PHP | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,123 | microsoft/WindowsAppSDK This Project | C++ | ★ 4.7K | |
| #1,124 | cyberbotics/webots | C++ | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,125 | GoogleCloudPlatform/golang-samples | Go | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,126 | ngx-translate/core | TypeScript | ★ 4.7K | Compare ↗ |
| #1,127 | crmne/spotifast | Rust | ★ 4.6K | Compare ↗ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does WindowsAppSDK do? +
The Windows App SDK empowers all Windows desktop apps with modern Windows UI, APIs, and platform features, including back-compat support, shipped via NuGet.
What language is WindowsAppSDK written in? +
The primary language is C++. Topics include: cpp, csharp, desktop, project-reunion, win32.
Is WindowsAppSDK actively maintained? +
Yes, the last recorded push was on Sep 27, 2026 with 425 open issues being tracked.
How many stars does WindowsAppSDK have? +
WindowsAppSDK has 4,692 stars and 478 forks on GitHub.
How does WindowsAppSDK rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 4,692 stars, microsoft/WindowsAppSDK is ranked #1,123 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #63 among C++ projects.
What license is WindowsAppSDK distributed under? +
The repository reports a MIT license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.