ProjectZ 2026.10.25.2

Project Z

Familiar XAML. Native graphics. Expressive desktop UI.

Build desktop tools, creative applications and game interfaces with a GPU-rendered scene system, native Windows integration and a WPF-inspired programming model.

Get started · See it in action · Documentation · Visual Studio templates

heirowSnap 26.10.64, built with Project Z. Native glass, sharp vector text and a shared application theme.

Get started

Add the framework to a Windows .NET 8 or .NET 10 project:

dotnet add package ProjectZ --version 2026.10.25.2

For a ready-to-run C# or Visual Basic starter, download the Visual Studio 2026 templates. Install the .NET desktop development workload and .NET 10 SDK, install the VSIX, then choose File → New → Project → Project-Z Desktop.

The templates offer DirectX 12, DirectX 11 and OpenGL configurations. The framework defaults to native DX12. Template setup and renderer selection.

heirowSnap built with Project Z

A native file gallery and Graphics panel share the same transparent theme. Watch the gallery scroll while a colorful desktop moves behind the windows, then explore the native Graphics controls.

Captured from the installed 26.10.64 app with an offline profile, staged sample images, 16x SSAA and anisotropic 16x filtering. Full-size gallery · Capture details.

What you can build

The framework package includes native XAML code generation, the internal model importer and a self-contained diagnostics observer. The heirowSnap app, VST plugin and demos are separate projects.

Bring your XAML

Keep your markup, resources and C# or VB code together. Generate native scenes during the build, or import supported views explicitly. Existing manual ports can keep conversion disabled; original sources remain editable.

Native scene setup and examples · Build-time XAML conversion · Implementation guide

Build from source

dotnet restore "Project Z Windows.vbproj"
dotnet build "Project Z Windows.vbproj" -c Release -p:UseLocalSocketJack=false

The DX11 fallback is available with -p:ProjectZGraphicsBackend=DirectX11; use OpenGL for the OpenGL backend. Examples and solution projects.

Documentation

• Feature reference
• Native scene XAML and build-time conversion
• Visual Studio 2026 templates
• Offline spelling and custom dictionaries
• Selectable and read-only text
• Third-party notices

Current release

2026.10.25.2 makes Project Properties → Project-Z → Rendering quality apply to native Game/SceneManager applications, including both desktop and XAML templates. The default 4x AA and 16x anisotropic filtering take effect without quality assignments in application code or generated WPF startup. Explicit runtime quality changes remain supported. Existing DX12 apps can update their ProjectZFrameworkVersion pin; DX11/OpenGL apps also need the matching updated ProjectZ/Runtime assemblies from the new template. Graphics quality · Package versions.

Support

Support Project Z through optional GitHub sponsorship.