Windows 8.1 is fixing many of the problems people had with Microsoft’s newest operating system last November, but it’s also adding quite a lot of really cool features. Living proof – a local 3D printing API.

So, how big is that this? In brief, it’s pretty big.

At its annual BUILD developer conference, Microsoft announced that it’s building 3D printing right into Windows 8.1 through a local API. The change benefits essentially everybody keen on the 3D printing space. Here’s what Steve Clayton over on the Next At Microsoft blog needed to say about it:

For app builders, it offers an application programming interface (API) for app developers to send their 3D models to, similar to apps was ready to with 2D printing for a very long time. For hardware developers, they could provide drivers which might be automatically downloaded and configured when the user plugs of their new 3D printer. Windows 8.1 provides the helpful job spooling, print queue management, and UI support that it usually has. And what’s great about here’s that app builders can send their content to plenty of 3D printers and not using a special work for every device – including folks that haven’t even been designed when the app is distributed. For 3D printer devices, some of the challenges have been getting quite a lot of interesting content to print. Now, these 3D printers can get content from any app that supports 3D printing in Windows 8.1, without a special work for every app, or even work automatically with apps that ship at some point.

The explanation for this development is that Microsoft believes that 3D printing is set to move mainstream. It want Windows to be the premier destination for 3D printing once it does. It’s even going to begin selling 3D printers at Microsoft Stores around the country.

In much more exciting news, MakerBot is coming right out of the gate with a brand new 3D printer driver for Windows 8.1 that provides “plug-n-play and seamless end-to-end printing from a wide selection of applications on to the MakerBot.” Speaking of which, MakerBot’s Replicator 2 3D printer is among the first 3D printers you’ll be capable to buy from the Microsoft Store.

Check out this video tutorial if you wish to start developing 3D printing apps for Windows 8.1: