openai-winui-app/references/_sections.md

Reference Sections

Use this index to choose the narrowest reference file that fits the current task.

1. Foundations

• foundation-setup-and-project-selection.md
• Priority: CRITICAL
• Use for first-project setup, packaged vs unpackaged decisions, and core WinUI prerequisites.

• Authority: Microsoft Learn WinUI and Windows App SDK setup docs.

• foundation-environment-audit-and-remediation.md

• Priority: CRITICAL
• Use for machine readiness checks, missing prerequisites, and guided remediation.

• Authority: Microsoft Learn setup and system requirements docs, plus the bundled bootstrap workflow.

• foundation-winui-app-structure.md

• Priority: HIGH
• Use for solution layout, shell composition, resources, bindings, and C#-first project structure.

• Authority: WinUI Gallery source plus Learn XAML guidance.

• foundation-template-first-recovery.md

• Priority: CRITICAL
• Use for opaque MSB3073, XamlCompiler.exe, and startup failures that should be recovered by comparing against a fresh dotnet new winui scaffold instead of applying alternate baseline files.

• Authority: Learn packaged and unpackaged deployment guidance plus recurring template-first recovery patterns.

• build-run-and-launch-verification.md

• Priority: CRITICAL
• Use for build/run workflows, actual launch verification, startup crashes, and packaged-vs-unpackaged local execution choices.
• Authority: Learn setup and deployment guidance plus recurring WinUI troubleshooting patterns.

2. Shell, Navigation, and Windowing

• shell-navigation-and-windowing.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for NavigationView, page shells, title bars, AppWindow, and multi-window design.
• Authority: Learn design guidance, WinUI Gallery samples, Windows App SDK Windowing samples.

3. Controls, Layout, and Adaptive UI

• controls-layout-and-adaptive-ui.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for control selection, command surfaces, responsive layout, and page composition.
• Authority: Learn design guidance and WinUI Gallery control pages.

4. Styling, Theming, Materials, and Icons

• styling-theming-materials-and-icons.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for Fluent styling, theme resources, Mica, Acrylic, typography, and iconography.

• Authority: Learn design/material docs, WinUI Gallery backdrop samples, Windows App SDK Mica samples.

• motion-animations-and-polish.md

• Priority: MEDIUM
• Use for transitions, connected animation, subtle polish, and animation discipline.
• Authority: Learn motion guidance, WinUI Gallery transition samples, CommunityToolkit animations.

5. Accessibility, Input, and Localization

• accessibility-input-and-localization.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for keyboarding, Narrator, high contrast, automation properties, and localization concerns.
• Authority: Learn accessibility and globalization guidance, WinUI Gallery automation patterns.

6. Performance and Diagnostics

• performance-diagnostics-and-responsiveness.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for UI-thread responsiveness, large item collections, rendering cost, and diagnostic tooling.
• Authority: Learn WinUI performance docs and XAML frame analysis guidance.

7. Windows App SDK Scenarios

• windows-app-sdk-lifecycle-notifications-and-deployment.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for lifecycle, activation, notifications, packaged vs unpackaged deployment, and runtime initialization.
• Authority: Microsoft Learn Windows App SDK docs and WindowsAppSDK-Samples.

8. CommunityToolkit Extensions

• community-toolkit-controls-and-helpers.md
• Priority: MEDIUM
• Use when built-in WinUI controls are not enough and Toolkit packages might close the gap cleanly.
• Authority: CommunityToolkit/Windows packages and samples.

9. Testing, Debugging, and Review

• testing-debugging-and-review-checklists.md
• Priority: HIGH
• Use for final review passes, debugging workflows, and validation checklists.

• Authority: Learn tooling docs plus recurring WinUI review patterns.

• sample-source-map.md

• Priority: MEDIUM
• Use when you need to know which canonical repo or doc to inspect first for a given task.
• Authority: Curated map across Learn, WinUI Gallery, WindowsAppSDK-Samples, and CommunityToolkit.