WPF (Windows PresentationFoundation) Development

What is WPF?

WPF stands for Windows Presentation Foundation. It's a framework within the wider Microsoft .NET framework and is used for developing user interfaces in Windows desktop apps. It offers you a powerful way to create rich, interactive user interfaces that blend visuals, data, media and logic into one polished experience. Regarded by some as the successor to WinForms, it provides a more modern and flexible approach to building desktop applications with stronger support for data binding, custom styling and advanced graphics.

What can WPF offer your business?

WPF is a solid platform for desktop application development, the fact that it has been around for nearly two decades and is still widely used is testament to that. But why? Here, we look at what WPF can offer to your business:

XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language) based design

Your User Interface lives in XAML and your logic in C# or VB.NET. This clean separation means your designers and developers can work in parallel without stepping on each other’s toes.

Intelligent data binding

With WPF, you can hook your interface directly to your data it will update automatically. Change the data, the UI follows - no manual intervention needed.

Styles & templates

WPF allows you to easily customise the look and feel of an app by using styles and templates. Styles let you set consistent design rules for multiple elements whilst templates give you the flexibility to completely change how a specific element looks and behaves.

Flexible layout system

WPF has a smart layout system that automatically arranges your apps elements adjusting them based on their settings and the containers they're placed in. This ensures you have a clean, organised interface without needing to manually position each element.

Graphics and multimedia

WPF provides your developers with rich graphics rendering capabilities including 2D and 3D graphics, vector graphics, animation and multimedia playback. That's some serious visual workloads.

Control customisation

WPF has a range of existing controls that can utilised when creating applications. However, if standard these stand controls don't quite cut the mustard? Create your own from scratch.

Reusable resources

You can centralise styles, colours and templates so your app remains consistent and is easier to maintain. 

Accessibility features

Accessibility features come as standard with WPF which makes it easier to create applications that are accessible to users with disabilities.

Best projects for WPF

WPF is a strong choice if you need rich user interfaces, complex data presentation and/or long term maintainability in a Windows desktop environment. It is particularly well suited to the following types of projects:

Internal business systems

WPF is a great choice for your internal business systems including CRMs, ERP modules, compliance platforms and workflow applications. Its powerful data binding and MVVM support make it ideal if you have forms heavy systems with complex validation and data interaction.

Data intensive desktop apps

If you need to display and manipulate large volumes of data present in financial analysis software, reporting dashboards, trading platforms or monitoring systems, WPF is a serious contender. It provides you with advanced controls, virtualisation and templating, letting you build fast, heavily customised data grids, charts and easy to digest visualisations that will appeal to even the most data shy of employees.

Engineering and sciencey systems

If you're building CAD viewers, simulation front ends, laboratory software or measurement systems, WPF offers powerful 2D/3D graphics, hardware acceleration and full control over rendering. In short, this means you can make complex, interactive visuals that look impressive even to the wizards that actually understand the math behind them. 

Enterprise productivity apps

When we consider the everyday tools that keep your business ticking over - project boards, file vaults, scheduling systems and knowledge bases - WPF provides the layout muscle and theming magic to create UIs that feel powerful, intuitive and just structured enough to give the illusion that everything is under control...

Modern alternatives

Whilst WPF was once heralded as a modern and flexible framework for building desktop applications on the Windows platform with its support for rich user interfaces, multimedia and data binding being somewhat niche, it is less fashionable these days. Newer technologies including MAUI and WinUI are now often promoted as more modern alternatives. These frameworks generally aim to cover the same ground as WPF whilst layering on additional capabilities, particularly around cross platform support, updated UI paradigms and closer alignment with the evolving Windows ecosystem.

How can we help?

Here at Cool Code Company, we have extensive experience building applications with the WPF framework, some of our developers have been around since it's inception after all! Whether your organisation is looking to continue investing in WPF and needs tailored support or is exploring alternative technologies, our WPF developers can help assess the current landscape and provide clear, informed guidance on the best path forward.

FAQ's

Q) Can WPF be used for cross platform development?

A) No, WPF is only intended to run on Windows OS.