The WinRT type system relies strongly on WinRT components, which are COM objects implementing a specific set of interfaces and adhering to a certain ABI (Application Binary Interface). We will examine here this ABI and how C++ compiler extensions help reference that ABI without exposing the nitty-gritty details of dealing with COM interfaces and COM activation. A WinRT component implements the IInspectable interface , which derives from IUnknown (however, WinRT components do not have dual interfaces...