What tools do you use to develop WPF?

Question

What tools do you use with Visual Studio Cider?
Did you manage to use something from the Microsoft Expression product family?

EDIT:
Tools shown here:

• Snoop
• Debugging visualizer
• Rotary Hammer proposed by Matt Hamilton
• Expression Blend 2.5 Preview Presented by Anthony Conyers
• Kaxaml proposed by Anthony Conyers and Brad Leach
• Xaml Export offered by Arthur Carvalho

Some other related questions:

• WPF or Silverlight Application Development Tools
• How to speed up WPF programs? - contains a list of related tools

Answer 1

Microsoft provides a handy tool called Punch, which can tell you which parts of your WPF application are displayed in the software. This is part of the large set of Performance Profiling Tools that you can find here .

Answer 2

I use the following tools for developing WPF:

• Snoop - This tool makes debugging WPF applications easier at runtime.
• Mole - An amazing visualizer for Visual Studio. It is highly recommended for working not only with WPF (although it was created for WPF).
• Kaxaml - A great tool for playing with XAML. Full intellisense. I use it to see how XAML will be displayed.
• Expression Blend - mainly for copying control templates, but also for some work styles.

Answer 3

New: WPF Inspector

Answer 4

In addition to Snoop, Mole, and VS2K8, the following are used:

• Kaxaml

I am in Blend, at least in the same way as Visual Studio when I work on the user interface in WPF projects. I use Blend to create the initial versions of the user interface, and then I will configure xaml manually inside VS. I use Kaxaml to "try everything." If I want to experiment, and I don't want the overhead of creating a new project in VS or Blend, I will use Kaxaml instead.

Answer 5

Xaml Export . Exports vectors (such as those created in Adobe Illustrator) to xaml.

Answer 6

XAML Power Toys is another producer and author of the book Mole, Karl Schifflett. Creates forms, lists, grids based on class metadata. Also some useful xaml tricks: grouping elements in a panel, clearing the created designer code, etc.

Answer 7

I am using ReaderSvg to convert SVG (vector graphics) to XAML.

It is not directly related to WPF, but it’s very useful to understand how WPF: Reflector controls work.

Answer 8

I use all the tools listed in the answer, so I will add it to the mix.

Rooler - This is a terrific tool for working with the user interface, and I believe that it is implemented in WPF.

Answer 9

Crack.NET is a debugging and scripting tool that Josh Smith did, giving you access to the internal components of any .NET desktop that runs on your computer. If you like Snoop and Mole for Visual Studio, you'll love Crack.NET too. Crack.NET allows you to "walk" with a managed bunch of another .NET application, check all types of values ​​on objects, and even manipulate these objects using IronPython scripts.

Crack.NET

Answer 10

WPF PerfTool may be useful

Answer 11

When I started researching WPF, I discovered many useful utilities (listed below). My article Basic WPF Starter Tools at Simple-Talk.com discusses each of them with illustrations and links.

General search tools

• XAML SDK Browser (Microsoft) - Shows the XAML and rendered sample for any control.
• XamlT, aka Type Explorer (Rob Relyaa) - shows the details of the WPF class in the new interface.
• Gradient Editor (Layne Thomas) - Gradient designer who produces XAML for you.
• Snoop WPF Debugger (Cplotts) is a WPF inspector that allows you to view the visual content of a running WPF application.
• DumpControlTemplate (Charles Petzold) - Displays the standard ControlTemplate for any WPF control.
• SDK Viewer (Microsoft) - Provides all the SDK documentation for WPF in a rich client application.

XamlPad and its successors

(My article provides a detailed function comparison table for these six editors.)

• XamlPad (Microsoft)
• XamlPadX (Lester Lobo)
• XAML Cruncher (Charles Petzold)
• Kaxaml (Robby Ingerbretsen)
• XamlPad example (Rob Relyea)
• XamlHack (Zhou Yong)

Answer 12

Some of the great WPF tool list articles (from my bookmarks) -

Full list of XAML tools:

http://www.realsoftwaredevelopment.com/the-complete-list-of-xaml-tools/

Windows Presentation Foundation tools and controls:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mswanson/archive/2006/02/26/wpftoolsandcontrols.aspx

Another one that I know of -

Pistachio - "WPI Resource Visualizer":

http://www.granthinkson.com/2007/11/08/announcing-pistachio-wpf-resource-visualizer/