Userware has released XAML.io Preview v0.5 with improvements including multi-file project editing. The team says this is an important step toward enabling visual .NET development directly in the browser. 

XAML.io is a free, browser-based XAML designer and C# editor built on top of the open-source OpenSilver framework. It can be used to visually design UIs, edit code, and run .NET projects entirely online. The resulting Visual Studio solution can be downloaded and edited offline using fully open-source technologies. The developers say you can think of XAML.io as a frictionless on-ramp to .NET development, not a walled garden.

They say this release is a major milestone because it moves XAML.io beyond single-file editing into full project development. Earlier preview versions of XAML.io could only be used for designing a single XAML file online, which limited the scope for real use. With Preview v0.5, developers can now work with entire projects that combine XAML and underlying C# code behind, directly in the browser. Editing the C# code is carried out using the Monaco editor that powers VS Code. The code-behind support means developers can add event handlers and logic in C#, just like in traditional .NET apps.

The advantage XAML.io offers is simplicity compared to the usual need to install large SDKs, configure environments, and set up tooling. Instead, developers can use their browser to prototype ideas quickly without local setup. This also enables them to learn and experiment with XAML more easily. 

In addition to the C# code-behind and multi-file project editing directly in the browser, the updated version also provides a Visual Studio–like layout with designer, editor, and Solution Explorer. The projects can be executed within the browser with a single click, and the environment includes support for saving the project to the cloud and automatically reloading it on return. The tool offers cross-platform browser support on desktop and mobile. 

Looking beyond preview v0.5, the developers plan to add the ability to share XAML.io projects with a single URL. IntelliSense support will also be added for C# editing, and VB.NET and F# support is planned. 

Expanded WPF compatibility and MAUI support are also on the cards, though MAUI support is a long term plan. 

XAML.io 0.5 is available now. 

More Information

XAML.io Website

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