Winapp Frameworks

When to use

Use this skill when:

• Working with a specific app framework and need to know the right winapp workflow
• Choosing the correct install method (npm package vs. standalone CLI)
• Looking for framework-specific guides for step-by-step setup, build, and packaging

Each framework has a detailed guide — refer to the links below rather than trying to guess commands.

Framework guides

Key differences by framework

Electron (npm package)

Use the npm package (@microsoft/winappcli), not the standalone CLI. The npm package includes:

• The native winapp CLI binary bundled inside node_modules
• A Node.js SDK with helpers for creating native C#/C++ addons
• Electron-specific commands under npx winapp node
• Generated JS bindings (.winapp/bindings/) for direct JavaScript access to Windows App SDK APIs

Quick start:

npm install --save-dev @microsoft/winappcli
npx winapp init . --use-defaults --add-js-bindings
npx winapp node create-addon --template cs   # create a C# native addon
npx winapp node add-electron-debug-identity  # register identity for debugging

Windows integration guidance:

• Use JS bindings to call Windows App SDK APIs directly from JavaScript without native addons (for example AI APIs, notifications, and file pickers). Custom WinRT components with .winmd metadata can also be added via winapp.jsBindings.additionalWinmds in package.json.
• Use native addons when you need Win32/COM APIs, third-party C++ libraries, or .NET assemblies: --template cpp for C++ (node-gyp), or --template cs for C#.
• Mixing JS bindings and native addons in one Electron app is fine.

Additional Electron guides:

• Notification JS bindings guide
• Windows APIs JS bindings guide (file picker + imaging)
• Phi Silica JS bindings guide
• WinML JS bindings guide
• Packaging guide
• C++ notification addon guide
• WinML addon guide
• Phi Silica addon guide

.NET (WPF, WinForms, Console)

.NET projects have direct access to Windows APIs. Key differences:

• Projects with NuGet references to Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools or Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK don't need winapp.yaml — winapp auto-detects SDK versions from the .csproj
• The key prerequisite is Package.appxmanifest, not winapp.yaml
• No native addon step needed — unlike Electron, .NET can call Windows APIs directly
• winapp init automatically adds the Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools.WinApp NuGet package, enabling dotnet run with automatic identity registration
• Arguments written after dotnet run go to the launched application, exactly as they would without the package; configure the launcher itself with the WinAppRun* MSBuild properties
• Example combining both: dotnet run -p:WinAppRunDetach=true --app-arg (WinApp detaches, the app receives --app-arg)
• Use -- when the app's flag is also a dotnet run option (--configuration, --framework, --project, -c, -f, -r, ...), e.g. dotnet run -- --configuration Release; otherwise the SDK claims it and the app never sees it

If you already have a Package.appxmanifest (e.g., WinUI 3 apps or projects with an existing packaging setup), you likely don't need winapp init — your project is already configured for packaged builds. Just make sure:

• Your .csproj references the Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK NuGet package (WinUI 3 apps already have this)
• The project properties are set up for packaged builds (e.g., <WindowsPackageType>MSIX</WindowsPackageType> or equivalent)
• WinUI 3 apps created from Visual Studio templates are typically already fully configured

Quick start:

winapp init . --use-defaults
dotnet build <path-to-project.csproj> -c Debug -p:Platform=x64
winapp run bin\x64\Debug\<tfm>\win-x64\

Replace <tfm> with your target framework (e.g., net10.0-windows10.0.26100.0), and adjust x64 to match your target architecture.

.NET MAUI

MAUI has one important quirk: its checked-in Platforms/Windows/Package.appxmanifest is full of $placeholder$ tokens that winapp package does not resolve. MAUI's resizetizer fills them at build/publish time into a generated manifest:

• Resizetizer manifest: obj\<Config>\<TFM>\<RID>\resizetizer\m\Package.appxmanifest
• Fully-resolved output manifest: bin\<Config>\<TFM>\<RID>\AppxManifest.xml

Publish the Windows head first, then point winapp package --manifest at the generated manifest — never the source one. See the dedicated winapp-maui skill for the full workflow, CI examples, and troubleshooting.

C++ (CMake, MSBuild)

C++ projects use winapp primarily for SDK projections (CppWinRT headers) and packaging:

• winapp init --setup-sdks stable downloads Windows SDK + App SDK and generates CppWinRT headers
• Headers generated in .winapp/generated/include
• Response file at .cppwinrt.rsp for build system integration
• Add .winapp/packages to include/lib paths in your build system

Rust

• Use the windows crate for Windows API bindings
• winapp handles manifest, identity, packaging, and certificate management
• Typical build output: target/release/myapp.exe

Flutter

• Flutter handles the build (flutter build windows)
• winapp handles manifest, identity, packaging
• Build output: build\windows\x64\runner\Release\

Tauri

• Tauri has its own bundler for .msi installers
• Use winapp specifically for MSIX distribution and package identity features
• winapp adds capabilities beyond what Tauri's built-in bundler provides (identity, sparse packages, Windows API access)

Debugging by framework

Key rules:

• GUI apps (Flutter, Tauri, WPF): use winapp run <build-output> — launches via AUMID activation
• Console apps (C++, Rust, .NET console): use winapp run <build-output> --with-alias — launches via execution alias to preserve stdin/stdout. Requires uap5:ExecutionAlias in Package.appxmanifest
• Electron: different mechanism — uses npx winapp node add-electron-debug-identity because electron.exe is in node_modules/, not your build output
• Startup debugging (any framework): use winapp create-debug-identity <exe> so your IDE can F5-launch the exe with identity from the first instruction

For full debugging scenarios and IDE setup, see the Debugging Guide.

Related skills

• Setup: winapp-setup — initial project setup with winapp init
• Manifest: winapp-manifest — creating and customizing Package.appxmanifest
• Signing: winapp-signing — certificate generation and management
• Packaging: winapp-package — creating MSIX installers from build output
• Identity: winapp-identity — enabling package identity for Windows APIs during development
• MAUI: winapp-maui — packaging/signing .NET MAUI Windows apps and resolving the resizetizer manifest
• Not sure which command to use? See winapp-troubleshoot for a command selection flowchart

CLI reference

Run winapp <command> --help for current command options, or winapp --cli-schema for the complete machine-readable command schema.