TL;DR;
What’s New in OpenSilver 3.0:

• A drag-and-drop User Interface Designer with over 100 built-in controls, simplifying the creation of .NET apps and websites. We believe it’s one of the most user-friendly designers available. 
• AI functionality (currently in Preview) integrated into the designer, allowing users to generate complex UIs and make modifications using natural language commands. Simply describe your desired changes, and the XAML code will be updated automatically. You can even upload an image or a mockup, and the AI will generate an approximation. 
• OpenSilver 3.0 expands support to VS Code, in addition to the existing support for Visual Studio, extending the development environment to Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. 
• XAML.io: the first Online XAML Designer: start building your app directly in the web browser – no installation required – then transition to Visual Studio for further development and deployment. XAML.io was itself built using OpenSilver.

Features Tour

• Chat with AI to build or refine your user interface (Preview)

In the following example, while editing MainPage.xaml in Visual Studio 2022, we ask the AI to create a landing page for a fictitious product named Adventure Works CRM:

• Iterate and provide follow up instructions to the AI

You can refine the AI-generated UI by continuing the conversation. In the following example, we ask to add a top navigation menu and use pastel colors:

This is the result:

and this is the result:

• Upload Images and Mockups

The AI can also take into account images and mockups provided with the prompt.  In the following example, we use the Windows Snipping Tool to capture the UI and draw on top of it. For example, to replace a circle with a triangle, we just draw the triangle:

 

We then copy/paste the image into the AI chat, and the AI will make the adjustments:

Here is the result:

Roadmap: What’s Coming Next

This release is just the beginning. With over a decade of dedication to this project, we remain committed to continuous innovation. We are finalizing the following features, which will be delivered in future updates:

• .NET MAUI Hybrid Support: Enabling developers to deploy native applications across iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. 
• Blazor Components in XAML: Seamless integration of Blazor and JavaScript components within C# and XAML code. 
• XAML 3D (Preview available at XRSharp.io): Add interactive 3D elements to your OpenSilver apps, mix and match 2D and 3D XAML, and share ViewModels. Leverage your WPF app creation skills to create stunning 3D websites compatible with all browsers, and WebXR-powered Mixed Reality experiences for devices like Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro, all using only .NET, C#, and XAML.

Expanding Our Services to Support Growing Adoption

As part of the OpenSilver 3.0 release, we are expanding our professional services to help businesses leverage the power of .NET and AI. With Userware’s 17 years of experience, our team of 25+ professionals is ready to meet the growing demand for specialized expertise.

• WPF and Silverlight Migration Services: We have successfully ported dozens of legacy apps since 2014, including large-scale enterprise applications with Telerik and RIA Services, some containing over a million lines of code per project.
• Userware AI Labs: The team behind the AI-powered features in the new OpenSilver designer is now offering AI integration services for systems and solutions. We have also launched UseCasesFor.ai, featuring over 250 examples of AI applications across various industries.
• Userware XR Studios: The team behind XAML 3D and XRSharp is offering specialized services in creating innovative VR/AR applications and immersive 3D websites.
• Comprehensive NET Services: Our team, including Microsoft MVPs and seasoned veterans, is offering end-to-end solutions, from development to design, UX, and consulting. We have expertise in all .NET frameworks, including WPF, Blazor, ASP.NET, WinForms, VB, Silverlight, MAUI/Xamarin, and more.

More Sample Applications

We’ve added more live sample applications to our Gallery page,  including a commercial project management application that we migrated for one of our clients.

If you haven’t already, also be sure to check out the migrated version of the “Silverlight Toolkit Live Samples” application by Microsoft, which now runs without plugin and virtually no code changes.

Code Once, Run Everywhere

OpenSilver applications are compatible across all modern browsers, including Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, without the need for any plugins. Additionally, these applications can be packaged as executables for deployment outside the browser and for submission to app stores.

This aligns with Microsoft Silverlight’s original goal: to facilitate the swift creation of enterprise-grade applications that are both cross-platform and cross-browser.

Getting Started

The first step is to download and install the Visual Studio Extension (VSIX), which features the new Project Templates for Visual Studio 2022: Download Link

Join Our Growing Community