Programming the Windows Runtime by Example: A Comprehensive Guide to WinRT with Examples in C# and XAML

A. Under the Covers

Fundamental WinRT Concepts

WinRT uses Partition II of the ECMA 335 standard¹ (“Metadata Definitions and Semantics”) to describe types. This is the same standard the .NET Framework uses to encode assembly metadata. Therefore, you can use many of the same tools you use to inspect .NET assemblies to also explore WinRT types. Visual Studio 2013 ships with the Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) disassembler, also known as ildasm.exe. In the same way assemblies are encoded in files that end with a DLL extension (for Dynamic Link Library), WinRT encodes type data in files that end with the winmd extension (Windows Metadata). Types must follow a set of specific standards for WinRT.

¹Standard ECMA-335, http://bit.ly/WrEekW