Windows Forms (WinForms)

What is WinForms?

WinForms is a delightful 'oldie but goodie' Microsoft technology that is used for building Windows desktop applications. Part of the .NET world, it’s free, open source and perfect for creating desktop apps if you're organisation is already immersed in the Microsoft ecosystem. Whilst veteran in nature, WinForms is still supported and maintained and can still prove to be a very attractive option, even after all these years.

Key features of WinForms

• RAD (Rapid Application Development) - If you want to throw together a working app faster than it takes to make your morning coffee, WinForms’ drag and drop interface lets you build forms, buttons and controls without drowning in code. 
• Support for legacy applications - If your business still relies on older Windows desktop apps built with previous versions of the .NET Framework, you can use WinForms to maintain, update and keep them running as they need to without a complete rewrite. Because who has time for that?
• Out of control, controls - Buttons, text boxes, grids… you name it, you can customise it. It's your app after all.
• Event driven programming - WinForms supports event driven programming, which essentially makes it easier for your app to process user inputs and other events including clicks, key presses and mouse movements.
• Fancy graphics - With GDI+ support you can draw, render and make your app look sharp without needing a degree in computer graphics.
• Data binding - In simple terms, WinForms lets you connect your app to databases, collections or other data sources and updates automatically. 

Why might you consider using WinForms?

There are a wide variety of reasons as to why you (or your development team) might choose to use the WinForms framework, here we take a look at some of them:

To maintain legacy applications

You don't need to trash your old legacy apps and replace them with something new (and probably costly). WinForms can be used to maintain, support and upgrade them to ensure your to continue to get bang for your buck for years to come.

It's oh so familiar (or is it?)

WinForms has been around since the dinosaurs. Well, maybe not that long but since the early 2000s at least. This means, many development teams already have significant experience with the framework, allowing them to develop and support applications without the need to learn new technologies. This applies regardless of whether your development team is in-house or external.

Quicker development

Drag, drop, bind, done. 

It integrates like a dream

As mentioned earlier, if you're already heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem and using tech such as SQL Server, Office or Active Directory, WinForms will integrate into this environment harmoniously.

It can save you a few quid

Continuing to use and maintain WinForms applications can be MUCH more cost effective than migrating to newer frameworks, particularly if the applications in questions still meet your needs.

The best projects for WinForms development

Despite not being the most modern of technologies, WinForms can and is still used to develop a wide variety of Microsoft desktop applications. Here are some projects where you might consider utilising WinForms:

Internal business software - WinForms is a good choice for building the software that is used by your internal staff - think admin panels, HR platforms or internal data entry systems. Basically, apps that don’t need to be flashy as long as they are functional, fast and easy to maintain.

Utilities and calculators - WinForms is also great for creating straightforward systems that require custom logic and interfaces tailored to specific tasks which could be for financial forecasting, quote generation or engineering calculations.

Inventory and order management - If you're an SME, WinForms can be used to build apps for functions such as stock tracking, order processing and basic reporting. It's a good choice in these instances because you don't need a web connection for the app to work which makes it reliable in office and/or warehouse environments.

Reporting and data viewing tools - WinForms is also a solid choice if you need an application that displays, filters and exports business data from spreadsheets or databases as it’s quick to build grids, charts and reports.

Migration of legacy systems - If your company has older software built on early versions of the .NET Framework - or even classic VB6 - WinForms can be a sensible modernisation path, allowing you to preserve familiar user workflows whilst rebuilding on a supported, up to date .NET backend.

Should you consider something new instead?

Considering WinForms was first released back in 2002, it is still surprisingly widely used when compared with other legacy frameworks. It is largely accepted that WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) was the successor to WinForms. However, in practice, a significant number of developers still favor WinForms and thus, it remains a popular technology despite it's age. In terms of deciding between WPF and WinForms for your application, WPF is better suited for creating visually rich and complex applications, whilst WinForms is a tried and tested option for simpler, stable applications, particularly in environments with existing WinForms expertise.

How can we help?

If you're after some expert developers to maintain, upgrade or build your WinForms applications then look no further. At Cool Code Company, our UK based developers have extensive experience with this veteran technology so whether you need to maintain your legacy systems in WinForms, develop a new Windows desktop application or need help migrating your WinForms apps to an alternative technology, our team has the expertise to make it happen. Get in touch today to see how we can support your WinForms application development needs!

FAQ's

Q) Can I use WinForms to build a mobile app?

A) No, WinForms was developed to build windows desktop applications.

Further Reading

Discover the Pros & Cons of WinForms