> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://devdocs.xbox.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # GDK glossary of terms and acronyms > Definitions of key terms, acronyms, and platform concepts used across the XBOX GDK documentation, including console, tooling, and networking vocabulary. This glossary defines the terms, acronyms, and product names used across the XBOX GDK documentation. Use it to confirm the meaning of a term you encounter, or as a quick reference when reading feature guides. ## Core platform | Term | Definition | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **GDK** | XBOX Game Development Kit. The umbrella SDK that contains the GRDK and GXDK. | | **GRDK** | Gaming Runtime Development Kit. Headers, libs, and tools for developing GDK titles for PC and XBOX that use Gaming Runtime features (MSIXVC, Connected Storage, etc.). | | **GXDK** | Gaming eXtensions Development Kit. The XBOX-only piece of the GDK, including D3D12.x, `xb*` remote management tools, and Visual Studio integration. | | **Gaming Runtime** | The set of components that implement modern cross-device games on Microsoft platforms (MSIXVC, Installation Management, Connected Storage, Store Commerce, Accessibility, Game Invites, TCUI). | | **Game OS** | The minimal, fast, secure OS that runs GDK games on XBOX consoles. | | **WINAPI\_FAMILY\_GAMES** | The Win32 API partition that represents the subset of Win32 APIs supported by the GDK. Required on XBOX consoles. | | **xgameplatform.lib** | The umbrella import library that defines entry points for all `WINAPI_FAMILY_GAMES` APIs. | | **XGameRuntime** | The GDK runtime library you initialize with `XGameRuntimeInitialize`. Required on XBOX consoles. | ## Packaging and deployment | Term | Definition | | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **MSIXVC** | The packaging format used by GDK titles on both PC and XBOX consoles. Required for Microsoft Store submission. | | **MicrosoftGame.config** | The required configuration file (formerly `MicrosoftGameConfig.mgc`) that declares your title's identity, executables, capabilities, and Gaming Runtime features. | | **makepkg** | The command-line tool that creates MSIXVC packages. | | **wdapp** | The command-line tool that deploys and tests MSIXVC packages on a PC. | | **Intelligent Delivery** | The Gaming Runtime feature that lets a game download only the chunks needed for the current configuration (language, region, optional content). | | **Streaming Install** | The feature that lets a game start running while package content is still being downloaded. | ## Identity and accounts | Term | Definition | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Partner Center** | The Microsoft developer portal where you set up your organization, register titles, configure XBOX services, and submit games. | | **Microsoft Entra ID** | Identity service (formerly Azure AD) used to manage members of your organization in Partner Center. | | **TitleId** | XBOX-assigned identifier for your title. Set in `MicrosoftGame.config`. | | **MSAAppId** | Microsoft Account App ID, used by XBOX services to identify the title. | | **Sandbox** | An isolated XBOX services environment used for development and testing. Switch sandboxes with `XblPCSandbox.exe`. | | **Test account** | A sandboxed XBOX account used to validate XBOX services functionality before publishing to the RETAIL sandbox. | | **XUID** | XBOX User Identifier. | ## Services | Term | Definition | | ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **XSAPI** | XBOX Services API. A flat C API surface for XBOX services. | | **XAL** | XBOX Authentication Library. | | **Connected Storage / Game Saves** | Cloud-backed game save storage exposed through `XGameSave`. | | **TCUI** | Title-Callable UI. Standardized system UI shown on behalf of the game through `XGameUI`. | | **PlayFab** | Microsoft's LiveOps backend for analytics, economy, multiplayer, and leaderboards. | ## Tools and debugging | Term | Definition | | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **PIX for Windows / PIX for XBOX** | The official GPU and CPU profiler and debugger. | | **`xb*` tools** | Remote-management command-line tools for XBOX dev kits, such as `xbconnect`, `xbcopy`, and `xbrun`. | | **XBOX Manager** | Desktop app for managing your dev kits. | | **XDP** | XBOX Device Portal. Web-based dev kit management. | | **xbWatson** | Crash dump capture and analysis tool. | | **Trace Analyzer** | Tool for analyzing XBOX services and Gaming Runtime traces. | ## See also * [Onboarding with ID@XBOX](/home/onboarding) ## Related topics - [Glossary](/publishing/game-publishing/glossary.md) - [Console certification terminology and XBOX network glossary](/publishing/certification/console-cert-terminology.md) - [Experimentation Key-terms](/services/playfab/live-service-management/game-configuration/experiments/experimentation-key-terms.md) - [Access GDK resources and downloads](/home/onboarding-access/access-resources.md) - [Set up and install the GDK](/home/setup-install/get-started.md)