UIAutomationClient | the C source code of Python UIAutomation for Windows

I'm writing a StreamDeck plugin, which allows bringing specific processes window to the front. The idea is to be able to quickly switch to specific application with a press to a button (eg. switch to Teams call and hang it up with press of another button). Moreover, this is tool (mostly) for me, so please, no "another next application with forced annoying popups" comments.

I'm wondering, what would be the proper way of implementing this feature?

Windows may be brought into foreground with SetForegroundWindow function, which has the following restrictions mentioned in the docs:

The system restricts which processes can set the foreground window. A process can set the foreground window only if one of the following conditions is true:

• The process is the foreground process.
• The process was started by the foreground process.
• The process received the last input event.
• There is no foreground process.
• The process is being debugged.
• The foreground process is not a Modern Application or the Start Screen.
• The foreground is not locked (see LockSetForegroundWindow).
• The foreground lock time-out has expired (see SPI_GETFOREGROUNDLOCKTIMEOUT in SystemParametersInfo).
• No menus are active.

An application cannot force a window to the foreground while the user is working with another window. Instead, Windows flashes the taskbar button of the window to notify the user.

A process that can set the foreground window can enable another process to set the foreground window by calling the AllowSetForegroundWindow function. The process specified by dwProcessId loses the ability to set the foreground window the next time the user generates input, unless the input is directed at that process, or the next time a process calls AllowSetForegroundWindow, unless that process is specified.

Important thing: I am aware of the workarounds (namely, simulating pressing alt key, what actually produces weird results sometimes).

However, I don't want to workaround the problem, but solve it directly (if possible).

The catch is, that plugins for Stream Deck works as separate processes (actually, even separate executables) and communicate through web sockets, with all the consequences (eg. I may as well create windows if needed).

My question would be: what would be the proper way of activating a window from within my process? The problem is that entry point is not direct user input (in terms of what WinAPI treats as user input, what would probably solve the problem), but user input via websockets.

Edit: in response to comments.

I tried to implement the solution with UI automation and SetFocus worked, but the window was not brought to foreground.

The source (you can copy & paste to a new console application) is as following: