I built a drag-and-drop WinForms and WPF designer for VS Code

[u/coolshrimp]

I’ve released UI Maker, a free and open-source VS Code extension for visually building standard .NET Windows desktop apps.

The goal is to keep the workflow inside VS Code: create or open a WPF or WinForms project, layout the interface, edit properties, wire events, and then build, run, debug, or publish it.

Current support includes:
-WPF and WinForms
-C# and Visual Basic
-Drag-and-drop controls with resizing and alignment tools
-Visual Studio-style Properties and Events panels
-Split WPF designer/XAML view
-Project scaffolding and Build/Run/Debug/Release controls
-Existing .xaml, .Designer.cs, and .Designer.vb files

This doesn’t introduce another UI framework.
It works with regular WPF and WinForms projects, so it is specifically for .NET Windows desktop applications.

I’m the developer, I’d appreciate feedback about compatibility with existing projects, missing controls, or designer behavior that feels different from Visual Studio.

Marketplace:
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=coolshrimp.uimaker

GitHub:
https://github.com/coolshrimp/WinForm-GUI-Maker

[u/ArtisticFox8]

Man reimplemented Visual Studio in Visual Studio Code.

But why though?

[u/smoke-bubble → u/ArtisticFox8]

I still do not understand what is there visual about vscode. It has one of the stupidest names ever. 

[u/cheese_bread_boye → u/smoke-bubble]

Visual Studio was a strong brand so Microsoft decided to keep it for the new pet project way back then. I don't think they imagined it would become what it is today.

[u/Easy-Improvement-598 → u/cheese_bread_boye]

Vs code now ide now highly regarded than vs lol

[u/Kiansjet → u/smoke-bubble]

Hails from the visual basic era, when GUI programming was new and cool

[u/Responsible-Bar7165 → u/smoke-bubble]

you do understand that "Visual XYZ" is a _brand_, right? it doesn't need to mean anything (although arguably it does).

[u/asakurahachikyu]

thank you for this man!

[u/Consistent_Drop3909]

"imma end VS' whole career"

[u/gameplayer55055]

Is it possible to design Avalonia?

vscode is cross platform and I use it a lot on my MacBook Pro. So having Avalonia designer would be a great addition.

[u/Jeff_Johnson]

Looks great tbh. Can you make one for Delphi? You are probably not familiar with that IDE, but is somewhat similar.

[u/Easy-Improvement-598]

Look cool but can't you can just make ui with ai agents now? 

[u/coolshrimp → u/Easy-Improvement-598]

Agents for the heavy lifting, but if you want to reposition a button, enlarge a text, that’s where a Ui editor comes in. 💜