Microsoft’s upcoming stable release of .NET 9 during .NET Conf 2024 marks a pivotal update in desktop development, especially for those using Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows Forms (WinForms). Both frameworks, essential for Windows desktop applications, are seeing new features aimed at aligning them with modern Windows aesthetics and enhancing developer productivity.
WPF is a modern, vector-based UI framework for building visually rich Windows desktop applications, offering advanced features like resolution independence, hardware acceleration, and a powerful data-binding engine through XAML.
WinForms, on the other hand, is an older, simpler UI framework that provides a drag-and-drop interface for creating Windows desktop applications with native controls and event-driven programming, focusing on ease of use and rapid development.
WPF Enhancements Align with Windows 11 Standards
One of the most talked-about updates in .NET 9 is the overhaul in WPF, designed to create apps that mirror the appearance of Windows 11. .NET 9 introduces native support for light and dark modes, making it easier for developers to align their applications with system settings. Rounded corners and system-defined accent colors have also been incorporated, further matching WPF apps with Windows 11’s aesthetic.
The standout feature is the new Fluent theme, showcased at Microsoft Build 2024. The theme provides updated typography, responsive layouts, and adaptable visual elements to ensure applications seamlessly fit within modern Windows environments. It’s a step forward for developers working on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2019, allowing them to build more cohesive user experiences.
Responding to feedback, .NET 9 has improved text rendering in WPF by adding hyphen-based ligature support. This small but impactful change improves how text is displayed, enhancing readability, particularly in apps that rely heavily on well-rendered typography.
Revitalizing WinForms for the Modern Era
WinForms, known for its simple approach to developing enterprise software, receives a refresh with .NET 9. A key addition is dark mode detection, which automatically adapts applications’ visuals to the system’s current theme. While this feature brings a modern touch to standard controls like toolstrips and menu items, older components, such as calendar widgets, might need custom handling.
Another major technical feature included in .NET 9 is the Control.InvokeAsync API, designed to simplify asynchronous programming in WinForms. This tool helps developers implement non-blocking functions, facilitating integrations with APIs, real-time data updates, and modern application workflows without significant rework of existing codebases. This update aligns with the growing need for responsive, interactive applications.
High-DPI Display Solutions and Design Consistency
Creating consistent UI experiences across high-DPI displays has been challenging for developers due to layout shifts when switching between monitors. .NET 9’s DPI-unaware design mode addresses this issue, ensuring that design surfaces remain stable at 96 DPI, no matter the display settings. This improvement helps developers maintain uniform layouts across various display environments.
Accessibility Upgrades and Performance Boosts
In a push to meet global accessibility standards, WinForms now incorporates support for UI Automation (UIA), replacing the older MSAA framework. This change provides better compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies, helping developers build apps that comply with standards like the ADA. The shift to UIA also aligns WinForms with modern accessibility requirements.
On the performance front, .NET 9 introduces updates that ensure smoother operations, such as faster rendering during window resizing and data-intensive scrolling. This update is part of an ongoing strategy to modernize how desktop applications handle real-time data and interact with system resources.
Since moving to open-source status in .NET Core 3.0, WinForms has seen robust engagement from the developer community. Contributions have added capabilities such as customizable task dialogs and advanced drag-and-drop features, further enhancing the platform’s usability. This collaborative approach, supported through GitHub, invites ongoing participation to shape the framework’s future.
