Save and restore workspaces

Layout Persistence

Let users return to the workspace they arranged.

Explore source ↗

Parent systemDock

StatusStable

Modules5

RepositoryDock/Dock.Serializer.SystemTextJson

Capability

Serializer packages preserve Dock layouts through System.Text.Json, Newtonsoft.Json, XML, YAML, and Protobuf while keeping persistence outside the UI layer.

01
Five serializer choices
02
Model-only persistence boundary
03
User workspace restoration
04
Application-controlled rehydration

How it composes

From intent
to working system.

Capture

The current model tree supplies dockable identity and layout state.

Serialize

A selected package converts the graph to the chosen wire format.

Store

Applications own files, profiles, cloud state, and versioning.

Restore

The factory reconnects services, contexts, and runtime-only state.

Quick start

Adopt this
capability.

Start with the primary module, then add the related packages only when the application needs those layers. Replace VERSION with the current NuGet version.

dotnet add package Dock.Serializer.SystemTextJson

<PackageReference Include="Dock.Serializer.SystemTextJson" Version="VERSION" />

<PackageVersion Include="Dock.Serializer.SystemTextJson" Version="VERSION" />

var serializer = new DockSerializer();
await using var stream = File.Create("layout.json");
serializer.Save(stream, Layout);

// Restore and reinitialize with the application factory.