Is there a Non COM API for iTunes

Question

I need to access iTunes data (playlists, songs etc.) in a C# application, but without using the COM interface available from Apple..

The problem i have is that the iTunes COM interface requires the iTunes process to be running. I would like to avoid that and make my application work even if iTunes process is shutdown.

I need only read-only access to GET some simple data from the iTunes database and not any kind of real-time control and similar.

Is there a way to suppress the iTunes process from starting automatically when i use the COM objects or is there an alternative to the COM interface?

I see that for apple developers it is normal to access an XML file, and they just recently got access to a "Library Framework"

https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/iTunesLibrary/Reference/iTunesLibraryFrameworkReference/_index.html

I could probably access the same XML file in windows.. is that the only alternative approach? or is there something more elegant?

Answer 1

The solution is definitely to use the XML file since i have found other software that does the same.