Userware has released OpenSilver 3.2, a significant update to its open source UI framework that brings Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) capabilities to mobile platforms. Originally known for replacing Microsoft Silverlight, OpenSilver allowed developers to build rich web applications that ran in browsers without requiring plugins. With this latest update, the framework takes a major leap forward by extending support to iOS and Android devices, effectively bridging the gap between legacy WPF applications and modern cross-platform development.
The key innovation in OpenSilver 3.2 is its integration with .NET MAUI Hybrid. This integration allows developers to maintain a single XAML and C# codebase while deploying to a wide range of platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and web browsers. The framework uses a WebView to render WPF-compatible UIs and compiles the business logic to native code using the .NET runtime. According to Userware, this setup provides a seamless development experience while delivering high performance and broad platform compatibility, making it a compelling choice for teams seeking to modernize existing WPF applications.
OpenSilver 3.2 also showcases its capabilities with two sample applications that demonstrate how the framework handles cross-platform deployment and native API integration. Developer tooling support has been improved as well, with extensions for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code now available in their respective marketplaces. This ensures that developers can work within familiar environments while leveraging the new features of OpenSilver. The release follows OpenSilver 3.1, which introduced an XAML designer for Visual Studio Code in December 2024, further reinforcing the framework’s commitment to developer usability and productivity.
The update includes several enhancements aimed at improving user interface interactions, particularly on touch-enabled devices. New features include better scrolling behavior with support for panning and inertia, a new event manager, and layout mirroring capabilities. Additionally, OpenSilver 3.2 now supports mixed flow directions (LeftToRight and RightToLeft), improved animation options for UIElements, and greater control over scrolling speed within ItemsControl. These improvements make the framework more adaptable to complex UI scenarios and a stronger candidate for enterprise-grade, cross-platform application development.