Microsoft’s New AI Workflow Can Build a WinUI 3 App in Around 30 Minutes

Microsoft has published an official Windows development guide showing developers how to build and publish a native Windows app with WinUI 3 in roughly 30 minutes.

The workflow uses free development tools, AI-assisted coding, the Windows App SDK, GitHub Copilot, and Microsoft’s new winapp CLI.

Microsoft lays out the tools developers need

Microsoft’s setup requires Visual Studio Code, .NET 10 or later, the Windows App Development CLI, WinUI templates, GitHub CLI, and the WinUI agent plugin for GitHub Copilot.

Together, these tools let developers create, modify, test, package, and publish a native Windows application from a relatively lightweight development environment.

Developers can create a WinUI 3 app from the command line

The process starts by creating a new WinUI project with the dotnet new winui-navview command.

The template generates a basic WinUI application built around NavigationView. Developers can then launch and test the app with dotnet run before opening the project in Visual Studio Code.

GitHub Copilot Agent mode handles app changes

Microsoft then directs developers to open GitHub Copilot Chat in Visual Studio Code and switch Copilot to Agent mode.

Developers can select the winui-dev agent and describe the feature they want to add using natural language.

The agent can make the requested code changes, but Microsoft recommends reviewing the generated code and testing the application before moving forward.

winapp CLI can package the app as MSIX

Once development finishes, Microsoft’s winapp CLI can publish the application to a folder.

Developers can also use the tool to package the app as an MSIX installer. For local testing, winapp can create and install a development certificate.

This keeps much of the packaging workflow inside the command line instead of requiring developers to configure each step manually.

Developers can publish directly to the Microsoft Store

The same CLI also supports Microsoft Store publishing.

Developers can submit an application from the command line with winapp store publish, although Microsoft requires a Microsoft Partner Center account before developers can distribute an app through the Store.

Microsoft combines WinUI 3 with agentic coding

Microsoft’s guide shows how developers can move from an empty folder to a native WinUI 3 application using free development tools in around 30 minutes.

The workflow combines WinUI 3, Windows App SDK, GitHub Copilot, and winapp CLI into a single development process that covers project creation, AI-assisted coding, testing, packaging, and Store submission.

Microsoft still stresses that developers should review and test AI-generated code instead of relying on agent-generated changes without verification.

In other news, Microsoft has released MAI-Image-2.6-Flash and plans to drop Edge Manifest V2 support for enterprises in 2027.

Via Neowin