With advanced security features, Windows applications safeguard sensitive business data against cyber threats, ensuring peace of mind and compliance with regulations.
Windows Forms is the original platform for managed Windows applications with a lightweight UI model and access to .NET or the .NET Framework. It excels at enabling developers to quickly get started building applications, even for developers new to the platform. This is a forms-based, rapid application development platform with a large built-in collection of visual and non-visual drag-and-drop controls. Windows Forms does not use XAML, so deciding later to rewrite your application to WinUI 3 entails a complete re-write of your UI.
Supports C# and Visual Basic, making it accessible for a broad range of developers.
Drag-and-drop UI designer simplifies form creation.
Hot Reload support.
Does not natively support Fluent Design.
Limited to Windows platform with no cross-platform development capabilities.
WPF is a well-established platform for managed Windows applications with access to .NET or the .NET Framework, and it also uses XAML markup to separate UI from code. This platform is designed for desktop applications that require a sophisticated UI, styles customization, and graphics-intensive scenarios. WPF development skills are similar to WinUI 3 development skills, so migrating from WPF to WinUI 3 is easier than migrating from Windows Forms.
Supports C# and Visual Basic, making it suitable for a wide developer audience.
Drag-and-drop UI designer and hot reload for streamlined UI development.
Supports Fluent Design through additional libraries.
Primarily for Windows development with no built-in cross-platform capabilities.
The Windows UI Library (WinUI) 3 is the latest user interface (UI) framework for Windows desktop apps, including managed apps that use C# and .NET, and native apps that use C++ with the Win32 API. It is still under very active development, so while it might not be able to meet all your needs today it's maturing with every release.
Modern UI framework that supports Fluent Design.
Hot Reload for efficient UI development.
Integrates well with the Windows App SDK.
No drag-and-drop UI designer.
Limited to Windows, with no direct support for cross-platform development.
Win32 desktop apps (also sometimes called classic desktop apps) are the original app type for native Windows applications that require direct access to Windows and hardware. This makes this the app type of choice for applications that need the highest level of performance and direct access to system hardware.
Offers deep integration with the Windows operating system.
Supports C++ and Rust, ideal for high-performance applications.
No built-in support for Fluent Design or .NET.
Lacks a drag-and-drop UI designer and hot reload capabilities.
The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) provides a common type system, APIs, and application model for all devices in the Universal Windows Platform. Not only can you use UWP to create desktop applications for Windows PCs, but UWP is also the only supported platform to write a single native universal app that runs across Xbox, HoloLens, and Surface Hub. UWP apps can be native or managed.
Full support for C#, C++, and Visual Basic.
Drag-and-drop UI designer available.
Hot Reload for UI debugging.
Fluent Design System support through WinUI 2.
Limited to Windows platform, no cross-platform capabilities.
Sandboxing might limit certain types of integrations and functionalities.