Thursday 

Room 6 - Level 5 

15:00 - 16:00 

(UTC±00

Talk (60 min)

Building a modern, native application for Windows: Which UI framework should you choose?

If you want to build a Windows desktop application, you might be overwhelmed by the number of UI frameworks available. How do you choose the best one for your project and your skills? How do you compare the features, benefits, and drawbacks of each framework? How do you ensure your app is modern, native, and scalable?

.NET
Tools
UI

In this session, you will learn how to make an informed decision for your Windows desktop application by comparing different UI frameworks:

- WinUI: The latest UI framework that lets you create beautiful, fast, and fluid Windows apps.
- WPF: The UI framework that lets you create rich, powerful Windows desktop apps using .NET and XAML.
- Windows Forms: The UI framework that lets you create traditional Windows desktop apps quickly using .NET.
- .NET MAUI: The UI framework that lets you create cross-platform desktop and mobile apps using .NET and XAML.
- Blazor Hybrid: Leverage your .NET web skills to create apps on multiple platforms.
- Uno Platform: Take your WinUI apps to iOS, Android, Linux and the web.

We will discuss the pros and cons of each framework:

- The supported platforms and app models
- The available UI features and controls
- The performance and reliability
- The development tools and languages
- The learning curve and documentation

You will also explore the same sample app created with each framework built with each framework and learn some best practices and guidelines. Along the way, you'll get some tips and resources on how to get your team started building apps for Windows.

By the end of this session, you will have a clear understanding of the current native UI frameworks and how to choose the best one for your next Windows application. Whether you are new to Windows desktop development or an experienced developer, this session will help you choose a framework that meets your needs and expectations. Don't miss this opportunity to untangle the web of UI framework choices and prepare for the future of Windows desktop development!

Alvin Ashcraft

Alvin is a technical writer and software developer specializing in Microsoft technologies, specifically .NET, C#, and XAML. He has over 25 years of experience developing applications for Windows, mobile, and the web. In recent years, he has shifted focus from programming to technical writing. He has authored two books for Packt Publishing and has become a full-time content developer on the Windows developer documentation on Microsoft Learn. His published books are Learn WinUI 3 -and- Parallel Programming and Concurrency with C# 10 and .NET 6.

Alvin is also one of the founding organizers of the TechBash developer conference and serves as treasurer of the TechBash Foundation.