xaml-csharp-development-skill-for-avalonia

WPF to Avalonia Migration Playbook

Table of Contents

1. Scope
2. Phase Plan
3. Practical Checkpoints
4. Example Vertical Slice
5. Avalonia C# Planning Skeleton
6. Exit Criteria

Scope

This playbook provides a production-focused sequencing model for migrating WPF applications to Avalonia with controlled risk.

Phase Plan

1. baseline inventory:
   • catalog windows, custom controls, templates, commands, and interop surfaces.
2. shell and lifetime:
   • port startup, main window, and platform service boundaries.
3. property/layout/binding:
   • port dependency properties, layout containers, and binding surfaces.
4. styling/templates/state:
   • port resources, control themes, and trigger/state behaviors.
5. advanced flows:
   • dialogs/navigation/background work/custom rendering/interop.
6. hardening:
   • accessibility, diagnostics, and performance validation.

Practical Checkpoints

• all new views use compiled bindings with x:DataType when feasible.
• no blocking UI-thread calls remain from WPF-era sync flows.
• custom controls expose clear Avalonia property contracts.
• platform integrations isolated behind abstractions.

Example Vertical Slice

WPF slice candidate:

// Customer editor window: validation + command bar + async save.

Avalonia XAML target:

<Grid xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
      xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
      xmlns:vm="using:MyApp.ViewModels"
      x:DataType="vm:CustomerEditorViewModel"
      RowDefinitions="Auto,*"
      RowSpacing="8">
  <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Spacing="8">
    <Button Content="Save" Command="{CompiledBinding SaveCommand}" />
    <Button Content="Cancel" Command="{CompiledBinding CancelCommand}" />
  </StackPanel>

  <TextBox Grid.Row="1" Text="{CompiledBinding CustomerName, Mode=TwoWay}" />
</Grid>

Avalonia C# Planning Skeleton

public sealed class MigrationSlice
{
    public string Name { get; init; } = string.Empty;
    public bool PropertySystemPorted { get; set; }
    public bool LayoutPorted { get; set; }
    public bool StylingPorted { get; set; }
    public bool CommandsPorted { get; set; }
    public bool Verified { get; set; }
}

public static bool ReadyForCutover(MigrationSlice slice)
    => slice.PropertySystemPorted
    && slice.LayoutPorted
    && slice.StylingPorted
    && slice.CommandsPorted
    && slice.Verified;

Exit Criteria

• parity-critical workflows validated across target platforms.
• no known blocking accessibility or threading regressions.
• style/template system fully under Avalonia theme/resource ownership.
• unresolved gaps documented with explicit mitigation and ownership.

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