Microsoft opens XAML Studio to developers

Microsoft has released XAML Studio as open-source software, opening up a Windows app design tool that had remained proprietary since its launch eight years ago, in a move aimed at rebuilding trust and momentum among developers working on modern Windows interfaces.

The company confirmed that the source code for XAML Studio has been published under a permissive licence, allowing developers to inspect, modify and contribute to the tool that is widely used to preview, test and refine XAML-based user interfaces for Windows applications. The decision places XAML Studio alongside a growing list of Microsoft development tools that have transitioned to open development models as the company seeks deeper engagement with external contributors.

XAML Studio was introduced as a lightweight environment for designers and developers to experiment with XAML layouts without the overhead of a full integrated development environment. Over the years, it became a familiar companion tool for teams building applications with Universal Windows Platform and later WinUI frameworks, offering live previews, rapid iteration and a bridge between design concepts and production code.

By making the tool open source, Microsoft is signalling a willingness to let the wider community influence its direction at a time when Windows application development faces stiff competition from web-based and cross-platform frameworks. Developers have increasingly favoured tools that evolve in public, respond quickly to feedback and integrate with a diverse ecosystem of libraries and workflows.

Company engineers involved in the project said the transition followed sustained internal discussions about the future of XAML tooling. Contributions from outside Microsoft had long been limited to feedback and feature requests, but the open-source release now enables direct collaboration on performance improvements, bug fixes and new capabilities. The codebase is being made available with documentation and contribution guidelines to lower the barrier for first-time contributors.

The move also reflects a broader recalibration of Microsoft’s Windows developer strategy. While the company has invested heavily in cross-platform technologies such as. NET and web-centric tooling, it has also faced criticism that native Windows development lacked transparency and pace. Opening XAML Studio allows developers to see how design-time rendering, layout parsing and live preview mechanisms work under the hood, offering educational value as well as practical benefits.

Industry observers note that XAML itself has undergone shifts in relevance, with some developers questioning its long-term role amid the rise of web technologies and multi-platform UI frameworks. Microsoft has maintained that XAML remains central to high-performance, native Windows experiences, particularly for applications that require tight integration with the operating system. An open XAML Studio may help reinforce that position by encouraging experimentation and modernisation driven by the community.

The release comes at a point when Microsoft has already open-sourced significant parts of its UI stack, including WinUI components and related tooling. Developers familiar with those projects are expected to recognise architectural patterns in XAML Studio, making it easier to contribute across repositories. Microsoft has indicated that it will continue to steward the project, reviewing external submissions and setting a public roadmap informed by community priorities.

Early reaction from developers has focused on the potential for faster feature delivery and better alignment with real-world workflows. Requests that previously took months to surface internally can now be addressed directly by contributors who depend on the tool in daily work. There is also interest in extending XAML Studio beyond its original scope, including support for newer UI controls, improved accessibility visualisation and tighter integration with design systems.

From a governance perspective, Microsoft said it will manage the project with an open issue tracker and regular updates, while retaining responsibility for major architectural decisions. This hybrid approach mirrors how the company oversees other high-profile open-source projects, balancing stability with community innovation.