XAML.io
Run and design .NET XAML apps entirely in the browser.
Tagline
XAML apps in your browser.
Prototype XAML .NET UIs without Visual Studio.
The browser workspace for C# and XAML.
Build, run, and demo .NET UIs instantly.
The fastest way to prototype XAML-based .NET apps without installing anything.
The page explicitly emphasizes browser execution, WebAssembly compilation, and no-install access, which supports a speed-and-friction-removal message.
A lightweight alternative to Visual Studio for quick XAML UI iteration.
The product appears aimed at the UI design/build loop rather than full enterprise IDE parity, so positioning against the overhead of Visual Studio is credible.
The browser workspace for teams stuck between code-first .NET and visual UI design.
The drag-and-drop designer plus C#/XAML editing gives it a hybrid low-code/high-code story that bridges engineering and design workflows.
Primary user
Frontend or full-stack .NET developer building XAML-based UIs who wants to prototype without opening Visual Studio
ICP #1
Senior .NET developer maintaining legacy WPF or Silverlight-style UI code
Pain
They need to quickly test layout changes or demo UI ideas without waiting for a heavyweight local IDE, solution load, and compile cycle.
Why this solves
A browser IDE with XAML editing and WebAssembly compilation removes local setup friction and makes UI iteration accessible from any machine.
ICP #2
Computer science instructor teaching C# UI development in a lab environment
Pain
Students waste class time installing Visual Studio, SDKs, and dependencies before they can write a single line of XAML.
Why this solves
XAML.io is free and requires no install, which makes it practical for classroom demos, shared lab machines, and fast onboarding.
ICP #3
Founder or solo builder prototyping a .NET desktop-style app without a fully configured Windows dev environment
Pain
They want to experiment with XAML UI concepts quickly but don’t want to commit to a local .NET setup just to validate the interface.
Why this solves
The browser-based workflow lets them design, compile, and preview a .NET app immediately, making early-stage prototyping much faster.
Strengths
- +The value proposition is clear in one sentence: browser-based .NET app building with C# and XAML.
- +The inclusion of a visual drag-and-drop designer plus WebAssembly compilation makes the product feel concrete, not vaporware.
- +The free/no-install framing lowers the barrier to trying it immediately.
Weaknesses
- −The page is extremely sparse; it doesn't explain who this is for, what app types are supported, or how far the IDE goes beyond a demo.
- −There is no proof of capability: no live demo, no feature walkthrough, no screenshots with labels, no examples of output, and no technical explanation of the runtime constraints.
- −The branding is inconsistent and sloppy-looking, with metadata issues like "ogImage": "logo.jgp" / "logo.jpg" and almost no persuasive copy.
- −There is no trust-building content for a developer product: no documentation links, no GitHub, no security/privacy notes, no compatibility details.
- −The page does not differentiate itself sharply versus Visual Studio, Rider, or even simpler in-browser sandboxes.
Fix these
- Add a hero section that names the exact use case: 'Prototype WPF-style or XAML-based .NET UIs in the browser.'
- Show a real product walkthrough: editor, designer, preview, compile/run state, and a sample app people recognize instantly.
- Create a comparison section versus Visual Studio and local setup, focused on speed, portability, and zero-install experimentation.
- Clarify technical scope: supported frameworks, what runs in-browser, what limitations exist, and whether projects can be exported or synced.
- Add developer trust signals: docs, examples, roadmap, changelog, source or team identity, and a CTA that drives immediate hands-on usage.
Drop-in replacement copy
Headline
Build XAML apps in browser
Edit C# and XAML, compile in WebAssembly, and prototype without installing anything.
Skip the local setup
Open XAML.io and start editing immediately. No Visual Studio install, no SDK setup, no waiting for your machine to be ready.
Design faster, not just code faster
Use the visual drag-and-drop designer when layout matters more than typing markup. It’s built for the quick iteration loop.
Run .NET in the browser
Compile and preview your app through WebAssembly directly in the tab. That makes demos, prototypes, and classroom use much easier.
Built for XAML-first workflows
XAML.io is focused on C# and XAML, not generic app-building fluff. It’s for developers who already know what UI they want to shape.
FAQ
Is this a replacement for Visual Studio?
No. It’s for quick prototyping, UI iteration, demos, and teaching. If you need a full enterprise IDE, Visual Studio or Rider is still the right tool.
What kind of apps can I build?
It’s aimed at XAML-based .NET UI workflows, especially WPF-style prototyping and experimentation. Check the current runtime constraints on the app for exact support.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The whole point is that you can open it in the browser and start working right away.
Can I use it for teaching?
Yes. That’s one of the best use cases. Students can get into C# and XAML without spending class time on installs and environment issues.
Is my code saved or exportable?
That depends on the current product setup. If export, sync, or persistence matters to you, that’s exactly the kind of feedback the team wants early.
Stop installing Visual Studio to try a XAML idea. XAML.io lets you build and run .NET apps in the browser with C# + XAML. Visual designer. WebAssembly compile. No local setup. Try it free: XAML.io
Visual Studio is overkill for quick XAML iteration. If you just want to test a layout, tweak bindings, or demo a UI idea, XAML.io gets you there from any machine. No install. No SDK setup. Just open and build.
Built a XAML app in the browser. C# editor on the left. Designer in the middle. Preview on the right. Compile and run with WebAssembly, no local .NET install. This is the fastest way I know to prototype .NET UIs.
Most .NET dev tools ignore the setup tax. I wanted a place where you can open a browser and start editing XAML immediately. So I built XAML.io: browser IDE, visual designer, in-browser compile. Still rough. Very usable.
Instructors keep asking for one thing: a way to teach XAML without spending half the class on installs. XAML.io is free, browser-based, and works on shared machines. If you teach C# or UI development, this is for you.
A browser IDE for XAML-based .NET apps. - Edit C# and XAML - Drag and drop UI elements - Compile in the browser - Run without local installs Built for quick prototyping, demos, and classrooms.
Need to test one XAML change? Opening a full IDE, loading the solution, waiting for build, then switching context is ridiculous for small UI work. XAML.io is for the 90-second edit loop.
Browser-based XAML design actually works. You can edit markup, drag UI elements, compile, and preview the result without leaving the tab. If you work on WPF-style apps, this saves a ton of friction.
I built this because every XAML demo starts with the same annoying sentence: 'install Visual Studio first.' That’s fine for a full project. It’s awful for experimentation. XAML.io removes the setup tax.
Free browser access changes how people try developer tools. No install means fewer drop-offs, faster first run, and easier classroom use. That’s why XAML.io is designed to be open immediately and useful immediately.
Angle: No-install prototyping for .NET UI work
If you’ve ever wanted to try a XAML UI idea without opening Visual Studio, loading a solution, waiting for restore, and setting up a local environment first, XAML.io is built for that. It’s a browser-based .NET workspace for C# and XAML. You can edit code, use a visual designer, compile in the browser with WebAssembly, and preview the app without installing a local .NET toolchain. That matters more than it sounds. For quick UI iteration, the setup tax is often the real blocker. Not the code. Not the design. The friction. This is especially useful for: - Developers prototyping WPF-style or XAML-based UIs - Instructors teaching C# UI development in labs - Founders and solo builders validating internal tools or app ideas I built XAML.io to make the first 5 minutes painless. Open tab. Edit UI. Run app. If you work in .NET UI land, I’d love feedback on what would make this genuinely useful for your workflow.
Angle: Teaching and classroom use
The most expensive part of teaching UI development is often not the software. It’s the setup. If students spend the first half of class installing SDKs, fixing environment issues, and waiting for tooling, you lose the lesson before it starts. That’s one reason I built XAML.io. It runs in the browser, lets you work with C# and XAML, and removes the local install step entirely. For a classroom, that means you can go straight from concept to code to preview. For shared lab machines, that matters even more. No machine-specific setup. No dependency drift. No “it works on my laptop” class demo failures. It’s not meant to replace every professional IDE workflow. It’s meant to make the learning loop fast and repeatable. If you teach C#, WPF-style UI concepts, or XAML basics, I’d be interested in hearing what would make this classroom-ready for your use case.
Angle: Lightweight alternative to heavyweight IDE flow
A lot of .NET UI work is simple in principle and annoying in practice. You want to adjust a layout, test a binding, move a control, and see the result fast. Instead you open a heavyweight IDE, wait for the solution to load, wait for compile, then repeat. XAML.io is a different workflow. It gives you a browser IDE for C# and XAML, a visual drag-and-drop designer, and in-browser compilation so you can iterate without local setup. That makes it useful for: - quick UI experiments - demos on any machine - onboarding new contributors - founders validating app screens before committing to a full environment It won’t replace every advanced IDE feature. That’s not the point. The point is to reduce the cost of the next UI change. If you build .NET UIs, I’d love to know where the current browser experience feels too limited and what you’d need to trust it for real work.
No visuals for this kit yet.
Tagline
Build XAML .NET apps in the browser
Description
A browser-based .NET IDE for C# and XAML. Edit UI with a visual designer, compile in WebAssembly, and prototype without installing Visual Studio or a local .NET toolchain.
Maker's first comment
I built XAML.io because I kept hitting the same wall: every quick XAML idea turned into a setup session. Open the IDE. Load the solution. Install the SDK. Fix the environment. Then maybe you can test a layout change. That’s fine for a full day of dev work, but it’s terrible for fast iteration, demos, classrooms, and early prototypes. XAML.io is my attempt to make that first step disappear. The goal is simple: open a browser, edit C# and XAML, use a visual designer, compile in the browser, and see the result immediately. No local install. No toolchain. Just a faster way to work on .NET UI ideas. I’d love feedback from people who actually build XAML apps: what’s useful, what’s missing, and where the browser workflow breaks down for real use.
Pinned maker comment
I’m looking for feedback on the workflow, not just the demo: does the browser-based C#/XAML loop actually save you time, and what would make it useful for real prototyping, teaching, or UI iteration?
Meta
Still installing Visual Studio first?
Hypothesis: .NET developers who prototype XAML UIs want to skip local setup for small iterations. XAML.io lets you edit C# and XAML, use a visual designer, and run the app in the browser with WebAssembly. Built for quick UI testing, demos, and classrooms.
Google Search
Browser-based XAML IDE for .NET
Hypothesis: people searching for XAML, WPF, or OpenSilver alternatives want a faster way to prototype without installing a full toolchain. XAML.io runs in the browser, supports C# and XAML editing, and compiles in WebAssembly so you can test UI ideas immediately.
Reddit Promoted
I got tired of waiting for
Hypothesis: indie .NET devs and instructors care more about iteration speed than full IDE depth for early UI work. I built XAML.io as a browser-based way to edit C# and XAML, drag UI elements, and run the result without a local install. Would love blunt feedback.
Subreddits
r/csharp
Show a real browser-based C# + XAML workflow and ask for feedback on whether it’s useful for quick UI iteration.
Rules: Keep it technical, no obvious promo spam, and lead with the build/process or a useful demo.
r/dotnet
Share the technical angle: WebAssembly compilation, browser runtime limits, and where this fits in the .NET workflow.
Rules: Posts should be informative and concrete; avoid pure marketing and be ready to answer technical questions.
r/WPF
Target legacy WPF-style UI devs who want faster layout experimentation and demoing without opening a full desktop IDE.
Rules: Focus on WPF relevance and practical workflow value; do not just drop a link without context.
r/SideProject
Share the story of building a browser IDE for XAML, including the setup pain that motivated it and the technical challenges.
Rules: Members prefer build stories and lessons learned over direct sales pitches.
r/indiehackers
Post the founder story: why a niche browser IDE is worth building, what traction you’re seeing, and what feedback you need.
Rules: Be honest about progress, metrics if you have them, and ask specific questions.
Communities
Post the build story, then follow up in comments with screenshots, tradeoffs, and what you learned from shipping a niche developer tool.
Launch with a technical angle and avoid hype; frame it as a browser-based .NET/XAML experiment and be ready for deep implementation questions.
Engage with adjacent .NET developers by sharing the browser workflow and asking for feedback on compatibility and use cases.
Cold outreach template
{firstName}, I built XAML.io for the exact pain of testing XAML changes without opening a full local setup. If you’re still doing quick UI iteration in WPF/OpenSilver/MAUI land, I’d love 2 minutes of blunt feedback on whether the browser workflow would save you time. {context}
Product Hunt timing
Launch on Tuesday at 12:01 AM Pacific Time. That gives you a full weekday cycle for dev audiences in the US and Europe, and Tuesday tends to outperform Friday for technical products because people are actually online, not checking out.
Indie Hackers post ideas
- 01I built a browser-based XAML IDE because Visual Studio was too heavy for quick UI edits
- 02What I learned building in-browser C# + XAML compilation with WebAssembly
- 03Would you use a no-install XAML prototype tool, or is the desktop IDE still the default?
Competitor alternatives
Current tone of voice
Minimal, technical, and developer-centric; the page leads with the direct promise "Build and run .NET apps in your browser with C# and XAML" and backs it with a no-install claim.
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