winui-app

Overview of winui-app skill

What winui-app is for

The winui-app skill helps you bootstrap, build, and troubleshoot native WinUI 3 desktop apps with C# and the Windows App SDK. It is most useful when you need more than a generic prompt: environment readiness, project scaffolding, shell/navigation choices, UI patterns, and practical fixes for build or launch problems.

Who should use it

Use the winui-app skill if you are starting a new Windows desktop app, checking whether your machine can support WinUI 3, or refining an existing app’s structure and UX. It is especially relevant for Frontend Development work that depends on modern Windows UI behavior, including XAML controls, windowing, theming, accessibility, responsiveness, and deployment.

Why it is different

This skill is decision-oriented, not just inspirational. It points you toward official Microsoft guidance, WinUI Gallery patterns, Windows App SDK samples, and CommunityToolkit where they actually help. That makes winui-app a better fit when you care about choosing the right setup path, avoiding bad baseline assumptions, and reducing time lost to packaging or startup issues.

How to Use winui-app skill

Install and activate

Install winui-app with:
npx skills add openai/skills --skill winui-app

After install, use the skill when your task involves WinUI 3 setup, app creation, or a Windows-only desktop UI issue. If you are invoking it in a prompt, say that you want help with winui-app usage and name the actual goal, such as a new app scaffold, a control layout, or a launch failure.

Give the skill the right input

Strong inputs describe the app state and the desired outcome. For example:

• “Create a new WinUI 3 app called TaskBoard in my current workspace and make it packaged.”
• “My existing WinUI app fails to launch after I added navigation and theming; help me diagnose the build and startup path.”
• “I need a settings page for a WinUI 3 app using CommunityToolkit only if WinUI does not already cover the control.”

Weak inputs like “fix my app” force the skill to guess the project model, target, and failure mode.

Read the right files first

For winui-app, start with SKILL.md, then review references/_sections.md to find the narrowest matching guide. The most useful paths are usually:

• foundation-setup-and-project-selection.md
• foundation-environment-audit-and-remediation.md
• foundation-winui-app-structure.md
• build-run-and-launch-verification.md
• shell-navigation-and-windowing.md

If you are choosing controls or polish work, also check:

• controls-layout-and-adaptive-ui.md
• styling-theming-materials-and-icons.md
• accessibility-input-and-localization.md
• community-toolkit-controls-and-helpers.md

Follow a practical workflow

Use the skill in this order:

1. Confirm whether the task is setup, scaffold, implementation, review, or troubleshooting.
2. For a new app or machine setup, start with readiness checks before design choices.
3. Pick the app name early, and avoid --force unless overwrite is explicit.
4. Verify the project can build and launch before adding more UI polish.
5. Use the reference files to keep your prompt specific, especially for packaged vs unpackaged decisions and startup verification.

winui-app skill FAQ

Is winui-app only for new projects?

No. The winui-app skill is also useful for existing projects that need refactoring, troubleshooting, or guidance on WinUI 3 structure and UX decisions. It is not limited to a fresh winui-app install or scaffold flow.

Do I need this instead of a normal prompt?

If your task is simple and already scoped, a normal prompt may be enough. Use winui-app when the work depends on correct Windows app setup, launch behavior, deployment model, or WinUI-specific conventions that a generic prompt is likely to miss.

Is it beginner-friendly?

Yes, if you can describe the app goal and accept a guided workflow. The skill is most beginner-friendly when you provide the target app name, whether it is packaged or unpackaged, and the first thing you want working.

When should I not use it?

Do not use winui-app for non-Windows frontends, cross-platform UI stacks, or tasks that do not involve WinUI 3 and the Windows App SDK. If your app is not a Windows desktop app, the skill is a poor fit.

How to Improve winui-app skill

Specify the decision that matters

The best winui-app outputs come from prompts that name the hard choice: packaged vs unpackaged, new scaffold vs recovery, platform target, or whether a feature should use built-in WinUI or CommunityToolkit. That reduces guesswork and makes the skill’s recommendations more actionable.

Provide concrete project context

Include the project name, current folder, what already exists, and any failure message. For example: “I have a packaged WinUI 3 app in C:\src\OrdersDesk, build succeeds but launch crashes after splash screen.” That is much better than asking for generic winui-app guide help.

Ask for verification, not just changes

When you want higher-quality results, ask the skill to verify build and launch behavior after changes. The repository emphasizes objective checks, so the strongest winui-app for Frontend Development workflows are the ones that end with a confirmed runnable app, not just edited XAML.

Iterate from the first result

If the first answer is too broad, narrow it by asking for one reference path, one UI surface, or one failure mode at a time. Common improvement loops are:

• scaffold first, then navigation
• navigation first, then theming
• theming first, then accessibility
• build fix first, then deployment review

That keeps winui-app focused on the real blocker instead of spreading effort across unrelated WinUI concerns.