Microsoft has unveiled the public preview of WinApp CLI (winapp), a new open-source command-line tool designed to simplify Windows app development for developers using diverse frameworks outside Visual Studio or MSBuild.
Hosted on GitHub, the tool targets web devs with Electron, C++ experts on CMake, and .NET, Rust, or Dart builders, making modern Windows APIs—like AI, security, and shell features more accessible.
Traditional Windows development burdens developers with SDK management, manifest editing, certificate generation, and complex packaging.
WinApp CLI unifies these into a single interface, letting coders prioritize app logic over setup hassles. Still in early stages, Microsoft released this preview to gather real-world feedback and prioritize features.
One-Command Environment Setup
Kickstart projects effortlessly with winapp init. This command downloads SDKs, generates C++/WinRT projections, creates manifests, assets, certificates, and handles dependencies, replacing error-prone manual steps.
For team consistency or CI/CD, run winapp restore to replicate environments. Integrate via GitHub/Azure DevOps actions for automated setups.
Modern APIs demand package identity for security and AI features, but testing often requires full packaging. WinApp CLI bypasses this: winapp create-debug-identity my-app.exe adds identity to executables, speeding up inner-loop debugging. Samples and guides show toolchain integrations.
Stumbling blocks like appxmanifest.xml and certs are automated. winapp init handles basics, while targeted commands shine:
- winapp manifest update-assets C:\images\my-logo.png: Updates manifest images in correct ratios.
- winapp cert generate: Creates and installs self-signed dev certs for sideloading.
Packaging for distribution? winapp pack ./my-app-files –cert ./devcert.pfx produces store- or sideload-ready MSIX files.
Electron users get an npm packagefor scaffolding C++/C# addons with Windows App SDK access. Debug viawinapp node add-electron-debug-identityto inject identity intonpm start`, enabling AI APIs like Phi Silica without plumbing. Explore NodeJS AI projections.
Install via winget install microsoft.winappcli or npm install –save-dev @microsoft/winappcli. Quick-start guides cover Electron, .NET, C++/CMake, and Rust.
Microsoft invites feedback on GitHub to shape future updates. This tool promises to democratize Windows development, especially for security-conscious apps leveraging package identity.
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