wpf-xaml-style-generator

name	wpf-xaml-style-generator
description	Generate XAML styles, templates, and resource dictionaries with theme support for WPF applications
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep
tags	["wpf","xaml","styles","themes","ui"]
graph	{"domains":["domain:software-engineering"],"specializations":["specialization:desktop-development"],"skillAreas":["skill-area:desktop-ui-frameworks","skill-area:ui-styling"],"roles":["role:desktop-developer","role:fullstack-engineer"],"workflows":["workflow:feature-development","workflow:release-management"]}

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"] }
        }
      
    
             
  
   

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>
    #4BA0E8

    
    #D6D6D6
    #0078D4
    #8A8A8A

    
    #107C10
    #FF8C00
    #D13438
    #0078D4

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}"/>
    

    
    
        
        
    

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"/>
        < = =/>
        
            
                
                    
                        
                    
                    
                        
                            
                            
                        
                        
                            
                            
                        
                        
                            
                        
                    
                
            
        
    

    
    

    
    

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($"{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

1. Use DynamicResource: For theme-switchable resources
2. Organize by function: Colors, brushes, styles separately
3. Follow naming conventions: Consistent resource key names
4. Provide base styles: Allow easy customization
5. Test all themes: Verify contrast and accessibility
6. 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