openai-winui-app/references/foundation-setup-and-project-selection.md

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title: Setup and Project Selection priority: CRITICAL tags: setup, prerequisites, packaged, unpackaged, visual-studio, dotnet sources: - https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/get-started/start-here - https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/winui/winui3/ - https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/ - https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/apps/windows-app-sdk/system-requirements

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What This Reference Is For

Use this file when the user is starting from scratch, choosing a project template, or asking what a WinUI machine needs before code work begins.

Prefer

• The setup-and-scaffold flow in ../SKILL.md for prerequisite setup, template verification, and the first scaffold.
• A C# WinUI 3 desktop app on the Windows App SDK unless the user has a clear reason to prefer C++ or an existing non-WinUI stack.
• Official project templates and default packaging choices first.
• The current supported LTS .NET SDK for new C# work instead of only meeting the bare minimum.
• A packaged app by default for the smoothest first-project, deployment, and Store-compatible path.
• An unpackaged app when the user explicitly needs repeatable CLI build-and-run verification or direct executable launches as the normal local workflow.

Avoid

• Starting project setup before the setup-and-scaffold flow in this skill has finished.
• Starting with unpackaged deployment unless the user needs repeatable CLI launch, an installer, existing desktop app integration, or a deliberate runtime strategy.
• Giving machine-readiness advice without verification.
• Treating old Windows builds, missing SDKs, or partial Visual Studio installs as "probably fine."
• Deferring the packaging choice until after startup, storage, and launch code are already written.

Setup Baseline

• Use the setup-and-scaffold flow in ../SKILL.md for prerequisite setup, template verification, and the first scaffold.
• Treat ../config.yaml as the bundled WinGet bootstrap source for setup and remediation.
• Return to this reference only after that workflow completes or when the task moves beyond initial project creation.
• Windows 10 version 1809 (build 17763) or later is the floor.
• Windows SDK 10.0.19041.0 or later is the practical baseline.
• Visual Studio with the WinUI application development workload is the supported primary IDE path.
• For C# apps, a supported .NET SDK must be installed.
• Developer Mode matters for common local deploy and debug flows.

Project Selection Guidance

• Choose packaged when the user wants the default WinUI 3 path, easy local F5 workflows, or Store-friendly deployment. Keep the scaffold at its default unless the user explicitly asks for unpackaged behavior.
• Choose packaged when the app needs package identity or package-backed APIs during normal operation.
• Choose unpackaged when the user expects direct .exe launches, agent-driven local verification after each change, or integration with an existing installer or external location. Request that option through the setup flow instead of converting the initial project afterward.
• For either packaging model, scaffold first through the setup flow in SKILL.md and continue from the generated project instead of copying in prebuilt baseline files.
• If startup or shared resources later become suspect, create a fresh comparison app with the same packaging model and diff against that dotnet new winui output before broader restructuring.
• Once the model is chosen, keep startup and service code consistent with that model.
• Choose the standard blank app template first, then layer in navigation, title bar, or windowing patterns as the app matures.

Sample and Source Anchors

• Learn start-here.md for the current official setup path.
• Learn winui/winui3/index.md for the framework position and platform benefits.
• Learn windows-app-sdk/index.md for the Windows App SDK feature surface.
• Learn system-requirements.md for tool and OS baselines.

Review Checklist

• Is the machine baseline actually verified through the setup-and-scaffold flow in SKILL.md?
• Is the chosen packaging model intentional?
• Does the launch workflow match the chosen packaging model?
• Is the app still rooted in the standard WinUI template unless there is a real reason not to?
• Is the recommendation aligned with a C#-first WinUI 3 workflow?