wpf-xaml-style-generator

Design

Generate XAML styles, templates, and resource dictionaries with theme support for WPF applications

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wpf-xaml-style-generator

Generate XAML styles, control templates, and resource dictionaries with theme support for WPF applications. This skill creates consistent, maintainable UI styling following modern design principles.

Capabilities

Generate control styles and templates
Create resource dictionaries with theme support
Set up light/dark theme switching
Generate brush and color resources
Create custom control templates
Set up implicit vs explicit styles
Generate animation resources
Configure Fluent Design integration

Input Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "projectPath": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Path to the WPF project"
    },
    "designSystem": {
      "enum": ["fluent", "material", "custom"],
      "default": "fluent"
    },
    "themes": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": { "enum": ["light", "dark", "high-contrast"] },
      "default": ["light", "dark"]
    },
    "controls": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "enum": ["button", "textbox", "combobox", "listbox", "datagrid", "menu", "all"]
      },
      "default": ["all"]
    },
    "accentColors": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "primary": { "type": "string" },
        "secondary": { "type": "string" }
      }
    },
    "includeAnimations": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "default": true
    }
  },
  "required": ["projectPath"]
}

Output Schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "success": { "type": "boolean" },
    "files": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "path": { "type": "string" },
          "type": { "enum": ["colors", "brushes", "styles", "templates", "themes"] }
        }
      }
    },
    "mergedDictionaries": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }
  },
  "required": ["success"]
}

Resource Dictionary Structure

Resources/
├── Themes/
│   ├── Colors.Light.xaml
│   ├── Colors.Dark.xaml
│   └── Colors.HighContrast.xaml
├── Brushes.xaml
├── Styles/
│   ├── ButtonStyles.xaml
│   ├── TextBoxStyles.xaml
│   ├── ComboBoxStyles.xaml
│   └── DataGridStyles.xaml
├── Templates/
│   └── ControlTemplates.xaml
└── Themes.xaml (merged dictionary)

Generated XAML Examples

Colors.Light.xaml

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <!-- Background Colors -->
    <Color x:Key="BackgroundPrimary">#FFFFFF</Color>
    <Color x:Key="BackgroundSecondary">#F3F3F3</Color>
    <Color x:Key="BackgroundTertiary">#E5E5E5</Color>

    <!-- Foreground Colors -->
    <Color x:Key="ForegroundPrimary">#1A1A1A</Color>
    <Color x:Key="ForegroundSecondary">#666666</Color>
    <Color x:Key="ForegroundDisabled">#ABABAB</Color>

    <!-- Accent Colors -->
    <Color x:Key="AccentPrimary">#0078D4</Color>
    <Color x:Key="AccentSecondary">#005A9E</Color>
    <Color x:Key="AccentLight">#4BA0E8</Color>

    <!-- Border Colors -->
    <Color x:Key="BorderDefault">#D6D6D6</Color>
    <Color x:Key="BorderFocused">#0078D4</Color>
    <Color x:Key="BorderHover">#8A8A8A</Color>

    <!-- State Colors -->
    <Color x:Key="SuccessColor">#107C10</Color>
    <Color x:Key="WarningColor">#FF8C00</Color>
    <Color x:Key="ErrorColor">#D13438</Color>
    <Color x:Key="InfoColor">#0078D4</Color>

</ResourceDictionary>

Brushes.xaml

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <!-- Dynamic Brushes (respond to theme changes) -->
    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="BackgroundPrimaryBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource BackgroundPrimary}"/>
    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="BackgroundSecondaryBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource BackgroundSecondary}"/>

    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ForegroundPrimaryBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource ForegroundPrimary}"/>
    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="ForegroundSecondaryBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource ForegroundSecondary}"/>

    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="AccentBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource AccentPrimary}"/>
    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="AccentHoverBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource AccentSecondary}"/>

    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="BorderBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource BorderDefault}"/>
    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="BorderFocusBrush"
                     Color="{DynamicResource BorderFocused}"/>

    <!-- Gradient Brushes -->
    <LinearGradientBrush x:Key="AccentGradientBrush" StartPoint="0,0" EndPoint="0,1">
        <GradientStop Color="{DynamicResource AccentLight}" Offset="0"/>
        <GradientStop Color="{DynamicResource AccentPrimary}" Offset="1"/>
    </LinearGradientBrush>

</ResourceDictionary>

ButtonStyles.xaml

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <!-- Base Button Style -->
    <Style x:Key="BaseButtonStyle" TargetType="Button">
        <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource BackgroundSecondaryBrush}"/>
        <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{DynamicResource ForegroundPrimaryBrush}"/>
        <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{DynamicResource BorderBrush}"/>
        <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
        <Setter Property="Padding" Value="16,8"/>
        <Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="32"/>
        <Setter Property="FontSize" Value="14"/>
        <Setter Property="Cursor" Value="Hand"/>
        <Setter Property="Template">
            <Setter.Value>
                <ControlTemplate TargetType="Button">
                    <Border x:Name="border"
                            Background="{TemplateBinding Background}"
                            BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
                            BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
                            CornerRadius="4"
                            SnapsToDevicePixels="True">
                        <ContentPresenter x:Name="contentPresenter"
                                          Focusable="False"
                                          HorizontalAlignment="{TemplateBinding HorizontalContentAlignment}"
                                          VerticalAlignment="{TemplateBinding VerticalContentAlignment}"
                                          Margin="{TemplateBinding Padding}"
                                          RecognizesAccessKey="True"/>
                    </Border>
                    <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                        <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
                            <Setter TargetName="border" Property="Background"
                                    Value="{DynamicResource BackgroundTertiaryBrush}"/>
                            <Setter TargetName="border" Property="BorderBrush"
                                    Value="{DynamicResource BorderHoverBrush}"/>
                        </Trigger>
                        <Trigger Property="IsPressed" Value="True">
                            <Setter TargetName="border" Property="Background"
                                    Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
                            <Setter Property="Foreground"
                                    Value="White"/>
                        </Trigger>
                        <Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
                            <Setter Property="Opacity" Value="0.5"/>
                        </Trigger>
                    </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                </ControlTemplate>
            </Setter.Value>
        </Setter>
    </Style>

    <!-- Primary Button Style -->
    <Style x:Key="PrimaryButtonStyle" TargetType="Button" BasedOn="{StaticResource BaseButtonStyle}">
        <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource AccentBrush}"/>
        <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="White"/>
        <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="Transparent"/>
        <Setter Property="Template">
            <Setter.Value>
                <ControlTemplate TargetType="Button">
                    <Border x:Name="border"
                            Background="{TemplateBinding Background}"
                            BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
                            BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
                            CornerRadius="4"
                            SnapsToDevicePixels="True">
                        <ContentPresenter HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                                          VerticalAlignment="Center"
                                          Margin="{TemplateBinding Padding}"/>
                    </Border>
                    <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                        <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
                            <Setter TargetName="border" Property="Background"
                                    Value="{DynamicResource AccentHoverBrush}"/>
                        </Trigger>
                        <Trigger Property="IsPressed" Value="True">
                            <Setter TargetName="border" Property="Background"
                                    Value="{DynamicResource AccentSecondary}"/>
                        </Trigger>
                        <Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
                            <Setter Property="Opacity" Value="0.5"/>
                        </Trigger>
                    </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                </ControlTemplate>
            </Setter.Value>
        </Setter>
    </Style>

    <!-- Implicit style for all buttons -->
    <Style TargetType="Button" BasedOn="{StaticResource BaseButtonStyle}"/>

</ResourceDictionary>

Theme Manager

public class ThemeManager
{
    private const string ThemesPath = "pack://application:,,,/Resources/Themes/";

    public static void SetTheme(string themeName)
    {
        var app = Application.Current;
        var dictionaries = app.Resources.MergedDictionaries;

        // Remove existing theme
        var existingTheme = dictionaries.FirstOrDefault(d =>
            d.Source?.OriginalString.Contains("Colors.") ?? false);

        if (existingTheme != null)
        {
            dictionaries.Remove(existingTheme);
        }

        // Add new theme
        var themeUri = new Uri(quot;{ThemesPath}Colors.{themeName}.xaml");
        dictionaries.Insert(0, new ResourceDictionary { Source = themeUri });
    }

    public static string CurrentTheme { get; private set; } = "Light";

    public static void ToggleTheme()
    {
        CurrentTheme = CurrentTheme == "Light" ? "Dark" : "Light";
        SetTheme(CurrentTheme);
    }
}

App.xaml

<Application x:Class="MyApp.App"
             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
    <Application.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
                <!-- Theme colors (first so brushes can reference them) -->
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Themes/Colors.Light.xaml"/>

                <!-- Brushes -->
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Brushes.xaml"/>

                <!-- Control Styles -->
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Styles/ButtonStyles.xaml"/>
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Styles/TextBoxStyles.xaml"/>
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Styles/ComboBoxStyles.xaml"/>
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Styles/DataGridStyles.xaml"/>
            </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </Application.Resources>
</Application>

Best Practices

Use DynamicResource: For theme-switchable resources
Organize by function: Colors, brushes, styles separately
Follow naming conventions: Consistent resource key names
Provide base styles: Allow easy customization
Test all themes: Verify contrast and accessibility
Document resources: Comment complex templates

Related Skills

wpf-mvvm-scaffold - Application architecture
wpf-high-dpi-analyzer - DPI scaling
desktop-ui-implementation process - UI workflow

Related Agents

wpf-dotnet-expert - WPF expertise
platform-convention-advisor - Design guidelines