Windows app development: options and features
App development frameworks
There is a wide range of options for developing applications for Windows. The best option for you depends on your application requirements, your existing code, and your familiarity with the technology. The following table lists the most popular app development frameworks available on Windows and the features supported by each framework.
To read more about each of these Windows app development options, see Writing apps for Windows.
Feature | .NET MAUI | Blazor Hybrid | React Native (RNW) | UWP XAML (Windows.UI.Xaml) | Win32 (MFC or ATL) | Windows Forms | WinUI 3 | WPF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Language | C# | C# | JavaScript, TypeScript | C#, C++, Visual Basic | C++, Rust | C#, Visual Basic | C#, C++ | C#, Visual Basic |
UI language | XAML/Code | Razor | JSX | XAML | Code | Code | XAML | XAML |
UI designer (drag & drop) |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
UI debugging | Hot Reload | Hot Reload | Fast Refresh | Hot Reload | - | Hot Reload | Hot Reload | Hot Reload |
Fluent Design | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (via WinUI 2) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
.NET | .NET | .NET | N/A | .NET Core & .NET Native | N/A | .NET & .NET Framework | .NET | .NET & .NET Framework |
Windows App SDK | ✅ (more info) | ✅ via MAUI | ✅ (more info) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ (more info) | ✅ | ✅ (more info) |
Great for touch | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
Cross-platform | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Xbox/HoloLens apps | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Sandboxing (AppContainer) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Currently supported | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Receiving updates | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (security & bugfix) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Roadmap | GitHub | GitHub | GitHub | n/a | n/a | GitHub | GitHub | GitHub |
Learn more about each of these options:
- .NET Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI)
- ASP.NET Core Blazor Hybrid
- React Native for Windows (RNW)
- Universal Windows Platform (UWP)
- Recommendations for Choosing Between ATL and MFC
- Windows Forms
- Windows UI Library in the Windows App SDK (WinUI 3)
- Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
Other Windows development options
There are even more options for developing on Windows:
- Python on Windows
- Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
- Microsoft for Java developers
- Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
- PowerShell
- Android development on Windows
See also
Windows developer
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