Find and explore Windows desktop APIs. Use when building features that need platform capabilities — camera, file access, notifications, UI controls, AI/ML, sensors, networking, etc. Discovers the right API for a task and retrieves full type details (methods, properties, events, enumeration values).

WinMD API Search This skill helps you find the right Windows API for any capability and get its full details. It searches a local cache of all WinMD metadata from: Windows Platform SDK — all Windows. WinRT APIs (always available, no restore needed) WinAppSDK / WinUI — bundled as a baseline in the cache generator (always available, no restore needed) NuGet packages — any additional packages in restored projects that contain .winmd files Project output WinMD — class libraries (C++/WinRT, C ) that produce .winmd as build output Even on a fresh clone with no restore or build, you still get full Platform SDK + WinAppSDK coverage. When to Use This Skill User wants to build a feature and you need to find which API provides that capability User asks "how do I do X?" where X involves a platform feature (camera, files, notifications, sensors, AI, etc.) You need the exact methods, properties, events, or enumeration values of a type before writing code You're unsure which control, class, or interface to use for a UI or system task Prerequisites .NET SDK 8.0 or later — required to build the cache generator. Install from [dotnet.microsoft.com](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download) if not available. Cache Setup (Required Before First Use) All query and search commands read from a local JSON cache. You must generate the cache before running any queries. No project restore or build is needed for baseline coverage (Platform SDK + WinAppSDK). For additional NuGet packages, the project needs dotnet restore (which generates project.assets.json ) or a packages.config file. Cache is stored at Generated Files\winmd cache\ , deduplicated per package+version. What gets indexed Source When available Windows Platform SDK Always (reads from local SDK install) WinAppSDK (latest) Always (bundled as baseline in cache generator) WinAppSDK Runtime When installed on the system (detected via Get AppxPackage ) Project NuGet packages After dotnet restore or with packages.config Project output .winmd After project build (class libraries that produce WinMD) Note: This cache directory should be in .gitignore — it's generated, not source. How to Use Pick the path that matches the situation: Discover — "I don't know which API to use" The user describes a capability in their own words. You need to find the right API. 0. Ensure the cache exists If the cache hasn't been generated yet, run Update WinMdCache.ps1 first — see [Cache Setup]( cache setup required before first use) above. 1. Translate user language → search keywords Map the user's daily language to programming terms. Try multiple variations: User says Search keywords to try (in order) "take a picture" camera , capture , photo , MediaCapture "load from disk" file open , picker , FileOpen , StorageFile "describe what's in it" image description , Vision , Recognition "show a popup" dialog , flyout , popup , ContentDialog "drag and drop" drag , drop , DragDrop "save settings" settings , ApplicationData , LocalSettings Start with simple everyday words. If results are weak or irrelevant, try the more technical variation. 2. Run searches This returns ranked namespaces with top matching types and the JSON file path . If results have low scores (below 60) or are irrelevant , fall back to searching online documentation: 1. Use web search to find the right API on Microsoft Learn, for example: site:learn.microsoft.com/uwp/api <capability keywords for Windows. APIs site:learn.microsoft.com/windows/windows app sdk/api/winrt <capability keywords for Microsoft. WinAppSDK APIs 2. Read the documentation pages to identify which type matches the user's requirement. 3. Once you know the type name, come back and use Action members or Action enums to get the exact local signatures. 3. Read the JSON to choose the right API Read the file at the path(s) from the top results. The JSON has all types in that namespace — full members, signatures, parameters, return types, enumeration values. Read and decide which types and members fit the user's requirement. 4. Look up official documentation for context The cache contains only signatures — no descriptions or usage guidance. For explanations, examples, and remarks, look up the type on Microsoft Learn: Namespace prefix Documentation base URL Windows. https://learn.microsoft.com/uwp/api/{fully.qualified.typename} Microsoft. (WinAppSDK) https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/windows app sdk/api/winrt/{fully.qualified.typename} For example, Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.NavigationView maps to: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/windows app sdk/api/winrt/microsoft.ui.xaml.controls.navigationview 5. Use the API knowledge to answer or write code Lookup — "I know the API, show me the details" You already know (or suspect) the type or namespace name. Go direct: If you need full detail beyond what Action members shows, use Action search to get the JSON file path, then read the JSON file directly. Other Commands If only one project is cached, Project is auto selected. If multiple projects exist, add Project <name (use Action projects to see available names). In scan mode, manifest names include a short hash suffix to avoid collisions; you can pass the base project name without the suffix if it's unambiguous. Search Scoring The search ranks type names and member names against your query: Score Match type Example 100 Exact name Button → Button 80 Starts with Navigation → NavigationView 60 Contains Dialog → ContentDialog 50 PascalCase initials ASB → AutoSuggestBox 40 Multi keyword AND navigation item → NavigationViewItem 20 Fuzzy character match NavVw → NavigationView Results are grouped by namespace. Higher scored namespaces appear first. Troubleshooting Issue Fix "Cache not found" Run Update WinMdCache.ps1 "Multiple projects cached" Add Project <name "Namespace not found" Use Action namespaces to list available ones "Type not found" Use fully qualified name (e.g., Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button ) Stale after NuGet update Re run Update WinMdCache.ps1 Cache in git history Add Generated Files/ to .gitignore References [Windows Platform SDK API reference](https://learn.microsoft.com/uwp/api/) — documentation for Windows. namespaces [Windows App SDK API reference](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/windows app sdk/api/winrt/) — documentation for Microsoft. WinAppSDK namespaces

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