Microsoft is making a major push to improve the way Windows 11 apps are built, opening development of its WinUI framework to the public through GitHub.

The company has confirmed that its main WinUI development is now happening on GitHub. Developers can track new code, branches, reviews and other changes instead of waiting for updates to be released.

WinUI is Microsoft’s framework for creating modern Windows interfaces. It supports the design features used across Windows 11, including rounded corners, Fluent Design effects, dark mode and smoother animations.

Microsoft has been using WinUI in several parts of Windows 11, including Settings, the Microsoft Store, Notifications and parts of File Explorer. The company is also updating older Windows interfaces that still use legacy designs.

The change is important because many Windows apps have increasingly relied on web-based technologies. Microsoft itself uses these technologies in some major products, while other popular applications are built with frameworks such as Electron.

These apps can consume large amounts of memory and other system resources, leading to performance complaints from Windows users.

Microsoft’s renewed focus on WinUI could help reduce its reliance on such technologies for future Windows apps and provide a more consistent experience across the operating system.

However, the transition will not happen overnight. Applications such as Microsoft Teams and the new Outlook still depend heavily on web technology, and Microsoft has not said that every existing app will be rebuilt using WinUI.

For now, bringing WinUI development into the open gives users and developers a clearer view of Microsoft’s efforts to modernise Windows 11 apps and older parts of the operating system.