COM usage on Windows only increased after Windows Vista and is at the heart how UWP works and user space drivers.
COM usage on Windows only increased after Windows Vista and is at the heart how UWP works and user space drivers.
Using it from C++/CX is quite painless compared with the old ways, as it is quite similar to .NET, Delphi and C++ Builder ways of using COM.
For a little pain ATL style, you can use Windows Runtime Library.
Kenny Kerr and his team are pushing for C++/WinRT, a new C++ projection (language binding), based on pure Modern C++, with the goal to eventually replace C++/CX. Currently WIP, though.
For those that really like to suffer, the old way of using MIDL compiler with C is still possible for UWP applications.
From our projects, I would say most UWP developers use .NET for UWP controls and only resort to C++/CX if integration is C++ code is required.