Free Open-Source UI Framework Debuts Drag-and-Drop Designer with Natural Language Commands
Userware has unveiled OpenSilver 3.0, an update to its free and open-source UI framework for .NET, bringing significant new features that aim to streamline and enhance the development process. This latest release introduces a drag-and-drop UI designer along with an innovative AI-powered UI designer, promising a more intuitive and efficient approach to building .NET web applications.
Launched on July 9, OpenSilver 3.0 integrates advanced AI functionality into its design tools. Users can now generate complex user interfaces and make modifications through natural language commands. By simply describing their desired changes, developers can see the XAML code automatically updated to reflect these alterations. Additionally, the AI can process uploaded images or mockups to generate approximate UI designs, further simplifying the design process.
As a successor to Microsoft’s Silverlight framework, OpenSilver continues to provide a robust platform for building .NET web applications using C# and XAML. The new version is available for download at forms.opensilver.net and includes a range of improvements designed to enhance developer productivity.
The update also introduces a versatile drag-and-drop UI designer, which comes with over 100 built-in controls. Notably, OpenSilver 3.0 expands its development environment compatibility, now supporting Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code editor in addition to the existing Visual Studio IDE. This extension supports development across Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, broadening the framework’s accessibility.
Another key addition in OpenSilver 3.0 is XAML.io, an online XAML designer that allows developers to build applications directly in a web browser without needing to install any software. Once the initial design is completed, developers can transition to Visual Studio for more detailed development. XAML.io, built using OpenSilver, offers a seamless way to prototype and iterate on designs.
The update also brings improvements to dynamic XAML loading from strings at runtime, revamps resource packaging into compiled assemblies, and relocates TypeScript definitions to a separate NuGet package (OpenSilver.TypeScriptDefinitionsToCSharp). To support businesses in harnessing the power of .NET and AI, Userware is also expanding its professional services as part of the OpenSilver 3.0 release