Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms?

Posted by pipeline_peak on Thursday March 23, 2023 @07:43PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I always wanted to make some sort of web app. As a .Net dev, I’ve used Winforms quite a bit. Even though it’s long outdated, I always found it intuitive for simple little apps. Is there any web UI software that shares the same drag and drop experience? React and all this other stuff feels like you need to take a boot camp course, too much hooking things together.

( 7 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by thesuperbigfrog on Thursday March 23, 2023 @08:12PM (#35283351)

Would WebForms work?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-forms/what-is-w...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by quickthrower2 on Friday March 24, 2023 @07:49AM (#35287799)

This would be the perfect choice. I developed in this in 2002. It is old tech! Wonder if aspnet webmatrix still exists (makes it even easier to build simple apps)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by cdaringe on Thursday March 23, 2023 @08:00PM (#35283259)

Doing UIs in VBA was so good. I miss it

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by rainytuesday on Thursday March 23, 2023 @09:47PM (#35284039)

Blazor Webassembly looks a little verbose, but you could probably figure it out without a bootcamp.

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Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by schwifty1 on Friday March 24, 2023 @05:27AM (#35286844)

I've not found one, but I wish software like this existed.

Please, if anybody knows of such a tool, share it!

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Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by anditherobot on Friday March 24, 2023 @12:21PM (#35291349)

This would be great, a visual UI builder that behaves like WinForms but using web technologies.

Ideally the tech should be remain stable for 10 years or more.

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Re:Ask HN: Any modern web UI software like WinForms? by DarrenDev on Friday March 24, 2023 @02:44PM (#35293691)

Not drag and drop like WinForms, but there are suites of components you can buy that serve the same purpose. A common look and feel across the page you build. Similarities in how they work.

DevExpress and Telerik spring to mind.

What's interesting about these is that they have corresponding WinForms components as the companies began their lives as WinForms or Borland component builders for desktop.

[ Parent | on HN ]