microsoft-ui-xaml
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microsoft
Proposal: Add Python support to WinUI 3
Proposal: Add Python support to WinUI3
Summary
WinUI 3 should include an official Python API, allowing end-users to build native Windows GUI apps in Python.
Rationale
- Python is one of the most popular programming languages in the world - by some measures, more popular than JavaScript, C# and C++.
- "Developing a native GUI app" is one of the most fundamental use cases for any programming language. However, there are no Microsoft supported paths at present for build Windows GUIs using Python. Pythonnet is a third-party tool that can be used, but it doesn't produce UWP-compatible apps.
- Python is widely used in education as an introductory language for new developers. Giving students the ability to build GUIs is an essential part of a modern developer experience.
- Python is widely used in scientific circles to support research. These researchers currently use Jupyter to provide visualisations of their data analysis; however, there Jupyter cannot be used to develop standalone applications for visualization or data gathering. A native GUI API would enable scientists to develop these apps.
- Microsoft already has an established interest in Python as a language. Microsoft has a dedicated Python language team (employing multiple members of the Python core team); VSCode has established Python language support; and Microsoft sponsors multiple major Python conferences.
Scope
Important Notes
This has been proposed in direct response to this tweet from @WindowsDocs, and this follow up from @zooba. It may be related to #1421.
Open Questions
Probably should also link to the experimental Python/WinRT projection which could see the necessary work required for WinUI support (as in: Xaml support).
This could be really awesome for data apps. Please think about how to integrate the wide range of popular Dataviz tools like Matplotlib, plotly, bokeh, holoviews, datashader, altair etz.
And look to the popular web frameworks bokeh, Dash, panel, Streamlit and voila for inspiration on how domain experts, scientists and data scientist develop data apps.
For example check out my sites awesome-panel.org and awesome-panel.org.
Make sure we can get an OpenGL context, so libraries like Arcade can do high-performance graphics.
In my opinion, If Microsoft wants to substantially increase the number of apps that support windows, then one of the best approaches is to invest in the Python community. They are huge in number, enthusiasm, ambition, and growth. A large portion of them are young, and young developers are the future! Your app store will be full of python based apps :)
As a Python developer, if Windows supports Python, then that will make it my first choice as a development OS.
Best,
Hey iirc there is a python library for this. It's called pythonnet, a python library for the .NET framework.
I'm interested in Python Support for WinUI3.
With recent additions like WSL and native containers Windows has started talking my language. I'd honestly strongly consider Windows as a daily driver if Python was picked up officially.
This would be amazing addition to the platform and I'm 100% for it.
We shall not lose this opportunity! This can change the world for the better!
This is needed! Windows is falling behind in the apps race because it doesn't have a straightforward solution for beginners to try their hand at making native apps.
I am very excited to see Windows (WinUI3) supports Python, and I hope Microsoft approve that as soon as possible!
Have developed GUIs with Python on Windows platform for few years. Had to use win32 and some other libraries to use specific functionalities. This support would have helped a lot.
