OpenSilver 3.0 previews AI-powered UI designer for .NET

Userware has released OpenSilver 3.0, and update to the free and open-source UI framework for.NET that introduces a drag-and-drop UI designer. The release also previews a generative AI-powered UI designer.

Introduced July 9, OpenSilver 3.0 integrates AI functionality into the designer that allows users to generate complex UIs and make modifications using natural language commands, Userware said. Developers can describe desired changes and the XAML code will be automatically updated. Developers also can upload images or a mockup, and the AI will generate an approximation.

Known as a replacement for Microsoft’s Silverlight rich Internet application framework, OpenSilver can be downloaded from forms.opensilver.net. Developers can use it to build.NET web applications in C# and XAML.

OpenSilver 3.0 also features a drag-and-drop UI designer with more than 100 built-in controls and support for Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code editor in addition to already supporting the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE. These moves extend the OpenSilver development environment to Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, Userware said.

OpenSilver 3.0 also introduces XAML.io, an online XAML designer that allows developers to build an app directly in the web browser, with no installation required. Developers then can transition to Visual Studio for further development. XAML.io was built using OpenSilver.

OpenSilver 3.0 also improves the ability to load XAML dynamically from a string at runtime, revamps how resources are packaged into compiled assemblies, and moves TypeScript definitions to a separate NuGet package (OpenSilver.TypeScriptDefinitionsToCSharp). Further, as part of the 3.0 release, Userware is expanding professional services to help businesses leverage.NET and AI.

Upcoming plans for OpenSilver include.NET MAUI hybrid support, allowing developers to deploy native applications across iOS, Windows, Android, and MacOS, and seamless integration of Blazor and JavaScript components within C# and XAML code.

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