Microsoft has released a fresh version of its open-source XAML Studio, now called XAML Studio 2.0, giving developers an early look at its latest updates. This tool, originally built for designing user interfaces for Windows apps, is now transitioning to the stewardship of the .NET Foundation. It’s a handy application for quickly prototyping and visualizing XAML-based UIs, especially useful for developers working with Microsoft’s latest UI frameworks.

The Evolution of XAML Studio

The original XAML Studio was launched as part of Microsoft’s Garage internal projects. It provided a simple interface with a grid view and a code editor, allowing users to tweak XAML code and see live updates in the UI. This made it a powerful tool for designing UWP apps, with features that resembled Adobe Dreamweaver, such as dropping controls into the editor and linking them to mock or real data. However, since UWP has evolved into WinUI for modern Windows development, XAML Studio’s usefulness for cross-platform projects has declined.

The last publicly available version was 1.1, released back in 2019. Over the past few years, there have been many changes in the .NET ecosystem, especially with the introduction of the Windows App SDK. Development of XAML Studio continued behind the scenes, with new WinUI components making their way into the tool. Now, with the first public release of XAML Studio 2.0 on GitHub, Microsoft is opening up its development process again, inviting community contributions and feedback.

Getting Started with XAML Studio 2.0

To try out XAML Studio 2.0, you need a current Windows development setup. This means having Visual Studio 2022 installed, configured for Windows app development, and a recent Windows SDK. Developer mode must also be enabled on your Windows machine, so you can run unsigned Store apps from Visual Studio.

Once your environment is ready, you can clone the XAML Studio repository from GitHub. It’s important to switch to the dev branch, as the main branch still contains version 1.1. After cloning, open the solution file in Visual Studio and set the XamlStudio project as the startup project. Building and running the app will download any missing dependencies, and then you’re ready to explore the new features.

Developers have tested the build on x64 systems, ensuring it runs smoothly with local debugging. Although there are some issues with ARM versions, the development team is actively seeking help to improve support for ARM devices. Overall, the process is straightforward, and the tool is already showing promise for UI design and prototyping.

What’s New and What’s Next for XAML Studio

The latest version of XAML Studio looks quite similar to previous releases on the surface, but under the hood, it has been rebuilt with the latest WinUI components. This means better performance, more modern controls, and future-proofing for Windows app development. Developers can expect a more flexible and powerful environment for experimenting with UIs before committing to full development.

Since the project is open source, the community can contribute bug fixes, new features, or help improve ARM support. The development team has plans for ongoing updates, including better data binding options, improved control libraries, and enhanced design tools. This open approach could make XAML Studio a key part of the Windows app development toolkit in the years ahead.

In summary, XAML Studio 2.0 represents a significant step forward, blending familiarity with modern updates. It’s an exciting tool for designers and developers alike, offering a streamlined way to prototype UIs and test controls. With continued community involvement and ongoing development, it has the potential to become an essential part of the Windows and WinUI development landscape.

Inspired by

• https://www.infoworld.com/article/4116810/a-first-look-at-xaml-studio-2-0.html

Sources

• microsoft.com
• github.com
• github.com
• github.com
• github.com