C++ xaml UI

[CaptainSpalding]

Why did you remove the xaml designer(wich isnt that great, but it was useful) from C++ WinUI? Why is there no visual tooling for C++ that is any good in (VISUAL) studio. my only gripe. you need form designers and other designers for C++ projects.if I recall you have one in vc6 very limited and through resource but at least it was something. I find myself using C++ builder when working with C++ for only this reason. and you have a designer from Emarcadero (Borland) that helped design C# so it should be cake for you

[hoshiizumiya]

I think the xaml designer won't get exactly the same as the final runtime style and behavior, because too many styles and behaviors are depended on the runtime of framework. Even if the WPF designer work properly, it's not always the same as the way when you run it especially there are many styles that you defined in the code or somewhere else, which all rely on runtime xaml style location analysis.

[pjmlp]

You are better off using Qt with QtCreator, Slint, or C++ Builder.

Forget about WinUI with C++, the C++/WinRT tooling is in maintenance since 2023, and there are no official plans to ever improve it, and deliver to what was promised to us back at CppCon 2017.

The reason the issues page only lets you create a bug report is because cppwinrt is in maintenance mode and no longer receiving new feature work. cppwinrt serves an important and specific role, but further feature development risks destabilizing the project. Additional helpers are regularly contributed to complimentary projects such as https://github.com/microsoft/wil/.

From microsoft/cppwinrt#1289 (comment)

Compare CppCon 2017: “C++/WinRT and the Future of C++ on Windows” with what you have in Visual Studio 2026 available today