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lepoco/wpfui

9,373C#Audience · developerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

A C# library that gives existing Windows desktop apps the modern Windows 11 look without rewriting them, install via NuGet and your WPF controls automatically get the Fluent rounded style.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((WPF UI))
    What it does
      Windows 11 styling
      Dark and light mode
      Custom controls
    New controls
      Navigation sidebar
      Snackbar alerts
      Dialog popups
    Setup
      NuGet package
      VS 2022 plugin
      App.xaml theme
    Extras
      Gallery app
      Paid support plans
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Update an existing WPF application to Windows 11 Fluent styling with dark and light mode support.

USE CASE 2

Add a navigation sidebar, snackbar notifications, and dialog pop-ups that WPF does not include by default.

USE CASE 3

Start a new WPF project already configured with Windows 11 style using the Visual Studio 2022 plugin.

Tech stack

C#WPF.NETNuGetXAML

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min

Requires .NET and Visual Studio 2022, two lines added to App.xaml activates all styling.

Use freely in personal and commercial projects under the MIT License as long as you include the license text.

In plain English

WPF UI is a C# library that brings the modern Fluent visual style, the same look used in Windows 11 apps, to the older WPF desktop application framework. WPF stands for Windows Presentation Foundation, a Microsoft technology for building Windows desktop programs. Developers who already have WPF applications can add this library to make those apps look current without rewriting them from scratch. The library works by replacing the standard building blocks of a WPF app with styled versions. Controls like buttons, lists, and toggle switches get the newer rounded, light, or dark appearance automatically. It also adds entirely new controls that WPF does not include by default, such as navigation sidebars, number input boxes, dialog pop-ups, and notification bars (called snackbars). There is also support for a custom title bar that enables the Windows 11 snap layout feature, the grid that appears when you hover over a window's maximize button. Installing it is straightforward. The package is distributed through NuGet, the standard package manager for .NET projects. A plugin for Visual Studio 2022, the main tool developers use to write C# code, lets you start a new project already configured with WPF UI. A gallery app is available in the Microsoft Store so you can browse and test all the included controls before writing any code. Once installed, you add a couple of lines to your application's resource file to load the themes, then your existing XAML layouts automatically pick up the new styles. From that point you can use the custom controls in your layouts the same way you would use any standard WPF control. The project is created and maintained by Leszek Pomianowski and an open-source community. It is licensed under the MIT License, meaning you can use it in both personal and commercial projects as long as you include the license text. Paid support plans are available through the creator's website for teams that need dedicated assistance.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
I have an existing WPF app. Show me how to install WPF UI via NuGet, add the theme resources to App.xaml, and replace the default title bar with the WPF UI custom one that enables Windows 11 snap layouts.
Prompt 2
Write a WPF UI snackbar that appears at the bottom of the window for 3 seconds after a file is saved successfully.
Prompt 3
Using WPF UI, build a navigation sidebar with three icon buttons that each swap the main content area to a different view: Dashboard, Settings, and Profile.
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