Introduction

In an exciting announcement, Microsoft has unveiled version 8.1 of the Windows Community Toolkit (WCT), released in August 2024. This significant update not only brings with it updated dependencies but also adds support for .NET 8, along with the introduction of two brand-new controls and numerous enhancements to existing ones.

What is the Windows Community Toolkit?

The Windows Community Toolkit is designed to empower Windows developers by providing a set of controls and libraries that fill the gaps in the existing platform features. Over the years, many of these toolkit offerings have been integrated into the Windows development environment. However, it’s crucial to distinguish the WCT from the .NET Community Toolkit (NCT), which delivers common functionalities unrelated to any specific UI framework.

Key Highlights of Version 8.1

While version 8.1 does not present major veranderingen, the updated dependencies and improved NuGet package redirects are key highlights. Developers will now find their toolkit aligned with the latest versions, including Windows App SDK 1.5 and Uno Platform 5.2, and the toolkit’s minimum Windows target version has been updated to 22621, enabling users to leverage .NET 8 features in their applications.

Improvements to Package Management

This update also brings improvements to package management. As part of the toolkit's streamlined organization initiated in version 8.0, version 8.1 introduces NuGet package redirects. This change specifically aids those transitioning from version 7.x, ensuring that calls to older namespaces now appropriately redirect to their newer counterparts. For example, references to Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.UI.Controls.Primitives will seamlessly redirect to CommunityToolkit.Uwp.Controls.Primitives.

New Controls and Enhancements

Highlighting the user experience, the addition of the ColorPicker and ColorPickerButton controls stands out. These controls, which were previously featured in WCT 7.x, return with an enhanced Fluent WinUI aesthetic, alongside several crucial bug fixes. The TabbedCommandBar control has also made its comeback, complete with refreshed WinUI styling and resolutions for issues that affected accent color changes.

Performance Improvements

Beyond these new features, version 8.1 addresses several minor fixes to bolster performance. Notable improvements include enabling camera preview helpers to work effectively with the Windows Apps SDK, introducing custom brush support for the ImageCropper control overlays, and adding new spacing options for the DockPanel control.

Upgrading from Version 7.x

For current users of the older 7.x version, upgrading to the latest version is straightforward. It entails simply updating the TargetFramework property in the .csproj file and adjusting the publishing profile to align with the new Windows SDK version.

Encouragement to Explore

Microsoft encourages developers to delve into the Windows Community Toolkit Labs—an experimental repository housing pre-release features and innovative ideas still in development. However, it should be noted that the removal of several controls during the transition from version 7 to version 8 has been a contentious topic among WCT enthusiasts, sparking discussions around potential enhancements in future releases.

Conclusion

Stay tuned for more updates on the Windows Community Toolkit, as the ongoing evolution continues to redefine the development landscape for Windows applications!