Which Framework Should I Use to Build a Desktop App?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
I'm building a desktop application for a friend's business and currently learning Avalonia UI. I already have some experience with C#, .NET MVC, and ASP.NET, and I've completed the temperature conversion example from Avalonia's official documentation. However, I'm having trouble finding enough tutorials and project-based learning material. Which desktop framework would you recommend, and would another programming language be a better choice? Cross-platform support would be useful, but I'm also open to a Windows-only solution.
Answers
You could also consider a web-based desktop approach, such as Tauri or Electron, especially if cross-platform support is important. Web technologies have a huge amount of learning material, although the user experience may feel less native. Electron can use more memory because it bundles a browser engine, while Tauri is generally lighter, so it may be worth comparing both before deciding.
Reply to this answer
The main decision is whether the application really needs to run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If Windows-only is acceptable, WPF is probably the easiest choice for someone with your C# and .NET background. It has much better documentation, more examples, and more community support than Avalonia. Avalonia is useful for cross-platform applications, but its tooling and learning resources can sometimes make development more frustrating.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
MellowCedar42: That makes sense. I was mainly considering Avalonia so I could describe the project as cross-platform desktop development in my portfolio, but I may switch to WPF for this application.