What tools do you use for WPF development? [closed]

Answer 1

I use the following tools for WPF development:

• Snoop - This tool simplifies debugging of WPF apps at runtime.
• Mole - Awesome visualizer for Visual Studio. Highly recommended for not just WPF work (although it was built for WPF).
• Kaxaml - Great little tool to “play” with XAML. Full intellisense. I use it to see how XAML will be rendered.
• Expression Blend - Mainly for copying control templates, but also some styling work.

Answer 2

In addition to Snoop, Mole and VS2K8 is use:

• The Expression Blend 2.5 Preview
• Kaxaml

I'm in Blend at least as much as Visual Studio when I'm working on the UI in WPF projects. I use Blend to create the initial versions of a UI and then I'll tweak the xaml manually inside of VS. I use Kaxaml to "try things out". If I want to experiment and I don't want the overhead of creating a new project in VS or Blend, I'll use Kaxaml instead.

Answer 3

I use all the tools listed in the answer so I'll add one to the mix.

Rooler - This is an awesome tool for UI work and I believe it's implemented in WPF.

Answer 4

Xaml Export. Exports vectors (like the ones made in Adobe Illustrator) to xaml.

Answer 5

XAML Power Toys another VS addin form author of Mole, Karl Shifflett. Generates forms, listviews, grids basing on class metadata. Also some useful xaml tricks: grouping elements into panels, clearing designer generated code, etc.

Answer 6

Microsoft provides a handy tool called "Perforator" which can tell you which parts of your WPF application are being rendered in software. It's part of a larger set of "Performance Profiling Tools" which you can find here.