Windows Driver Samples is a collection of official code examples for Windows driver development using the Windows Driver Kit and Visual Studio.
The repository addresses the challenge of learning to write Windows drivers by providing working sample code that demonstrates best practices for both Universal Windows drivers and desktop-only drivers. The samples cover multiple hardware categories including camera, print, display, Near Field Communication, WLAN, and Bluetooth. Developers can use these examples as templates and reference implementations when building new drivers or porting existing ones to current Windows versions. The samples are designed to work with Visual Studio 2022 and the Windows Driver Kit, with the driver development environment integrated directly into Visual Studio.
Developers new to Windows driver development should use these samples as starting points, with the repository offering specific exercises for writing first drivers using both User-Mode Driver Framework and Kernel-Mode Driver Framework approaches. The samples are particularly valuable for those porting drivers from older Windows versions, as they demonstrate the current recommended patterns and APIs. The repository includes guidance on what changes must be made when moving from sample code to production drivers, acknowledging that the samples are intentionally simplified for educational purposes. Anyone building drivers for Windows 11 across different hardware form factors will find relevant examples here.
The project maintains active engagement with the developer community through GitHub Actions integration for driver builds and provides clear pathways to official Windows Driver Kit documentation. The repository follows Microsoft's open source code of conduct and includes structured exercises that allow developers to work through driver development concepts independently.
