What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to provide a clear framework for selecting inter-process communication methods in Windows applications.

July 29, 2026Open Access

Choosing Windows Inter-Process Communication ── A Decision Table for Named Pipes / TCP / gRPC / Shared Memory / COM (archived 2026-07-27)

Key Points

The aim is to provide a clear framework for selecting inter-process communication methods in Windows applications.
Organized IPC methods like named pipes, TCP, gRPC, shared memory, and COM in a decision table.
Discussed practical considerations such as UI/service separation and permission boundaries.
Included a working example of a named-pipe implementation.
Identified strengths and weaknesses of various IPC methods for Windows applications.
Provided insights into practical topics including 32-bit/64-bit bridging and integration challenges.

Abstract

How do you choose the right way for Windows applications to talk to each other? This article organizes named pipes, local TCP, gRPC, shared memory, file-based integration, and COM by their strengths and pitfalls in a decision table, and covers practical topics like UI/service separation, 32-bit/64-bit bridging, permission boundaries, and a working named-pipe implementation example. Archived version of https://comcomponent.com/en/blog/windows-ipc-decision-table/, as published on 2026-07-27. The live article is maintained and may change after this date. First published 2026-07-02.

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