Question

What are some useful utilities that help you when writing WPF applications? I know about Snoop for visual debugging of WPF applications at runtime, and Shazzam – a WPF pixel shader effect testing tool.

I’d like to know about other such applications and what are they useful at.

Answer 1

There are whole bunch of tools for WPF, and more and more are popping up as WPF grows in popularity. I have listed a few of the most useful ones below, but it really depends on what you are wanting to achieve.

For instance, for me the Sketchflow plugin in Blend has made such a difference. Also, with VS2010 comming to release next year you will see the integration of VS2010 with WPF being a lot more fluid.

WPF/XAML Specific Utilities

• Microsoft Blend with Sketchflow – Design & Prototype
• Performance Profiling Tools for WPF
• XAMLPadX – Xaml editor
• XAML Power Tools – Plugin for Vs
• Snoop – Simplify Visual Debugging
• Shazzam – Edit Pixel Shading
• Mole – Visualizer With Property Editing
• Kaxaml – Lightweight XAML Editor
• Pistachio – Resource Visualizer
• Zam 3D – 3D XAML Tool
• XAML Exporter for Blender
• Paste2XAML – Convert Clipboard and metafiles into xaml
• Silverlight PAD – Test XAML Content
• StyleSnooper – See the styles for any WPF framework control
• Show me the Template – Exploring Templates of Controls
• WPF XBAP Permission Repair Tool – Repairs Registry for WPF Xaml Browser Apps
• Crack.Net – Similar to Mole or Snoop

I also agree with Andrew, if you are looking at doing a lot of WPF development it is worth giving the MVVM pattern a look at as I feel this is one pattern that does expose a lot of power behind WPF.

Also, if you havent had a look at PRISM, give it some time.