Windows API Wrapper for .Net?

Question

Windows API

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So i know that the WinForms touches on the Windows API a little, but frankly its horrible. ESPECIALLY with the layered windows and flickering. So i was wondering if anyone has wrote partial, or full wrappers for the Windows API.Im particularly interested in the Layered Window aspect, but really any part of the API is a good place to start.

Update: I found the Windows API Code Pack here: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/WindowsAPICodePack but it seems that it doesnt wrap Layered Windows? Am i correct in assuming this?

Native API (Windows)

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Ive heard a little bit about the Native API, but im not quite sure what it is for? what features does it provide? would it be a good idea to look into?

Summary (Questions in a nutshell)

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1. Does anyone know of an existing (partial or full) wrapper of the Windows API?
   • If the answer is no to question one, where would be a good resource to learn about it myself, and potentially write my own?
2. An explanation of the Native API? What does it do? Can I use it to make applications better? Can I even USE it at all?

An answer to any of those is highly appreciated :) thanks

Answer 1

You could start at PInvoke.NET.

Answer 2

The Windows API is huge. There is a ton of stuff in it. Windows Forms is a wrapper of parts of it. WPF is a wrapper of parts of it. Parts of the Base Class Libraries (eg System.IO.*) are wrappers of parts of it. The Code Pack is a wrapper specifically of things that were new in Vista and Windows 7 and not in Windows Forms or WPF.

Have you looked into WPF? Combined with P/Invoke of specific API functions, it might take you a long way towards where you want to be.