View source for Windows Forms

'''Windows Forms''' is the name given to the [[graphical user interface|graphical]] [[application programming interface|application programming interface (API)]] included as a part of [[Microsoft|Microsoft's]] [[.NET Framework]], providing access to the native [[Microsoft Windows]] interface elements by wrapping the existing [[Windows API]] in [[managed code]]. While it is seen as a replacement for the earlier and more complex [[C++]] based [[Microsoft Foundation Class Library]], it does not offer a paradigm comparable to [[model–view–controller]]. Some after-market and third party libraries have been created to provide this functionality. The most widely used of these is the [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=98C6CC9D-88E1-4490-8BD6-78092A0F084E&displaylang=en User Interface Process Application Block], which is released by the Microsoft ''patterns & practices'' group as a free download that includes the source code for quick start examples.

== History and future ==
Just like [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]], the equivalent [[Java (programming language)|Java]] API, Windows Forms was an early and easy way to provide [[Graphical user interface|GUI components]] to the [[.NET Framework]]. Windows Forms is built upon the existing Windows API and some controls merely wrap underlying Windows components.

The [[Windows Presentation Foundation]] addresses these problems by providing a much more platform-independent way of designing graphical user interfaces. Windows Forms has been in effect superseded by WPF (and its associated GUI declarative language called [[Extensible Application Markup Language|XAML]]). Since WPF is relatively new, it is unclear if Windows Forms will continue to be improved in future .NET releases<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://joshsmithonwpf.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/wpf-vs-windows-forms/
| title= WPF vs. Windows Forms
| first=Josh|last=Smith
| date=2007-09-05
| accessdate=2008-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://blogs.msdn.com/mharsh/archive/2004/09/20/231888.aspx
| title= WPF vs. Windows Forms
| first=Mike|last=Harsh
| quote=''If you’re targeting only Windows XP and Longhorn, Avalon is the way to go.  But Windows Forms is still the only way to write managed UI that will run on Win 2K and below''
| date=2004-09-20
| accessdate=2008-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.longhorncorner.com/Blogs/BlogDetail.aspx?BlogId=660
| title= Future of Windows Forms and ASP.NET
| first=Mahesh|last=Chand
| date=2008-05-08
| accessdate=2008-07-26}}</ref>.

== Architecture ==
A ''Windows Forms application'' is an [[Event-driven programming|event-driven application]] supported by Microsoft's [[.NET Framework]]. Unlike a [[Batch processing|batch program]], it spends most of its time simply waiting for the user to do something, such as fill in a [[text box]] or click a [[Push-button|button]].

== Alternative implementation ==
[[Mono (software)|Mono]] is a project led by [[Novell]] (formerly by [[Ximian]]) to create an [[Ecma International|Ecma]] standard compliant [[.NET Framework|.NET]] compatible set of tools.

As of 13 May 2008, [[Mono (software)|Mono]]'s System.Windows.Forms 2.0 is API complete (contains 100% of classes, methods etc. in Microsoft's System.Windows.Forms 2.0); also System.Windows.Forms 2.0 works natively on Mac OS X.

== See also ==
* [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
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* [http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/windowsforms.mspx MSDN: Building Windows Forms applications]
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd30h2yb.aspx MSDN : Windows.Forms reference documentation]
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms996405.aspx MSDN : Windows Forms Technical Articles - Automating Windows Form with Visual Test]
* [http://windowsclient.net/ Official community site]

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[[Category:.NET framework]]
[[Category:Widget toolkits]]
[[Category:Microsoft application programming interfaces|Forms]]