WPF Project Scaffolder

WPF Project Scaffolder

If $0 is empty, use the AskUserQuestion tool to ask: "Enter the WPF project name (e.g., MyApp, Dashboard)". Do NOT proceed until a valid name is provided. Use the response as the ProjectName for all subsequent steps.

Scaffold a WPF project named $0 with MVVM, DI, and best practices.

Usage

# Default project (recommended) - CommunityToolkit.Mvvm + GenericHost
/wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-project $0

# Minimal structure
/wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-project $0 --minimal

# Full structure (all layers separated)
/wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-project $0 --full

# Prism framework (module-based architecture)
/wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-project $0 --prism

Framework Options

Option	Framework	Features
(default)	CommunityToolkit.Mvvm	Lightweight, Source Generator, GenericHost DI
--prism	Prism.DryIoc	Region Navigation, Module, Dialog Service

Prism details: See PRISM.md for complete Prism project structure and examples.

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Project Structures

Default Structure

$0/
├── $0.sln
├── $0.App/                    # WPF Application
│   ├── App.xaml
│   ├── App.xaml.cs
│   ├── MainWindow.xaml
│   ├── MainWindow.xaml.cs
│   ├── GlobalUsings.cs
│   ├── Views/
│   ├── Converters/
│   └── $0.App.csproj
├── $0.ViewModels/             # ViewModel (pure C#)
│   ├── MainViewModel.cs
│   ├── GlobalUsings.cs
│   └── $0.ViewModels.csproj
└── $0.Core/                   # Business logic
    ├── Models/
    ├── Services/
    └── $0.Core.csproj

Minimal Structure

$0/
├── $0.sln
└── $0/
    ├── App.xaml
    ├── App.xaml.cs
    ├── MainWindow.xaml
    ├── MainWindow.xaml.cs
    ├── ViewModels/
    │   └── MainViewModel.cs
    ├── Views/
    ├── Models/
    ├── Services/
    └── $0.csproj

Full Structure

$0/
├── $0.slnx
├── src/
│   ├── $0.Abstractions/       # Interfaces, abstract classes
│   ├── $0.Core/               # Business logic
│   ├── $0.ViewModels/         # ViewModel
│   ├── $0.WpfServices/        # WPF services (CollectionView etc.)
│   ├── $0.UI/                 # CustomControl library
│   └── $0.App/                # WPF Application
└── tests/
    ├── $0.Core.Tests/
    └── $0.ViewModels.Tests/

Prism Structure (--prism)

See PRISM.md for complete structure.

---

Generated Files

$0.App.csproj

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
    <TargetFramework>net10.0-windows</TargetFramework>
    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
    <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>
    <ApplicationIcon>Resources\app.ico</ApplicationIcon>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.Mvvm" Version="8.3.*" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting" Version="9.0.*" />
  </ItemGroup>

  <ItemGroup>
    <ProjectReference Include="..\$0.ViewModels\$0.ViewModels.csproj" />
    <ProjectReference Include="..\$0.Core\$0.Core.csproj" />
  </ItemGroup>

</Project>

App.xaml.cs (with DI)

namespace $0;

public partial class App : Application
{
    private readonly IHost _host;

    public App()
    {
        _host = Host.CreateDefaultBuilder()
            .ConfigureServices((context, services) =>
            {
                // Register services
                services.AddSingleton<IDialogService, DialogService>();

                // Register ViewModels
                services.AddSingleton<MainViewModel>();

                // Register Views
                services.AddSingleton<MainWindow>();
            })
            .Build();
    }

    protected override async void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
    {
        await _host.StartAsync();

        var mainWindow = _host.Services.GetRequiredService<MainWindow>();
        mainWindow.DataContext = _host.Services.GetRequiredService<MainViewModel>();
        mainWindow.Show();

        base.OnStartup(e);
    }

    protected override async void OnExit(ExitEventArgs e)
    {
        await _host.StopAsync();
        _host.Dispose();
        base.OnExit(e);
    }
}

MainViewModel.cs

namespace $0.ViewModels;

public partial class MainViewModel : ObservableObject
{
    [ObservableProperty] private string _title = "$0";
    [ObservableProperty] private string _statusMessage = "Ready";

    private readonly IDialogService _dialogService;

    public MainViewModel(IDialogService dialogService)
    {
        _dialogService = dialogService;
    }

    [RelayCommand]
    private async Task LoadDataAsync()
    {
        StatusMessage = "Loading...";

        try
        {
            // TODO: Load data
            await Task.Delay(1000);
            StatusMessage = "Data loaded successfully";
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            await _dialogService.ShowErrorAsync("Error", ex.Message);
        }
    }
}

GlobalUsings.cs

global using System;
global using System.Collections.Generic;
global using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
global using System.Linq;
global using System.Threading.Tasks;
global using System.Windows;
global using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
global using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
global using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
global using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;

---

CLI Commands

Commands to run after project generation:

# Create solution
dotnet new sln -n $0

# Create projects
dotnet new wpf -n $0.App
dotnet new classlib -n $0.ViewModels
dotnet new classlib -n $0.Core

# Add projects to solution
dotnet sln add $0.App/$0.App.csproj
dotnet sln add $0.ViewModels/$0.ViewModels.csproj
dotnet sln add $0.Core/$0.Core.csproj

# Add project references
dotnet add $0.App reference $0.ViewModels
dotnet add $0.App reference $0.Core
dotnet add $0.ViewModels reference $0.Core

# Add packages
dotnet add $0.App package CommunityToolkit.Mvvm
dotnet add $0.App package Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting
dotnet add $0.ViewModels package CommunityToolkit.Mvvm

---

Prism vs CommunityToolkit.Mvvm

Feature	CommunityToolkit.Mvvm	Prism
Base Class	ObservableObject	BindableBase
Command	RelayCommand (Source Gen)	DelegateCommand
DI Container	GenericHost (any)	DryIoc, Unity, etc.
Navigation	Manual implementation	IRegionManager
Dialog	Manual implementation	IDialogService
Module	Not supported	IModule
Best for	Small-Medium apps	Medium-Large apps

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Next Steps

1. Add View: /wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-usercontrol
2. Add CustomControl: /wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-custom-control
3. Add Converter: /wpf-dev-pack:make-wpf-converter

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Related Skills

• structuring-wpf-projects - Project structure detailed guide
• configuring-dependency-injection - DI setup detailed guide
• implementing-communitytoolkit-mvvm - MVVM pattern detailed guide