Win2D

Win2D is an easy-to-use Windows Runtime API for immediate mode 2D graphics rendering with GPU acceleration. It is available to C# and C++ developers writing Windows apps for Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10. It utilizes the power of Direct2D, and integrates seamlessly with XAML and CoreWindow.

Where to get it

• NuGet packages for Windows 10 or Windows / Phone 8.1
• Source code

How to use it

• Documentation
• Sample code - also available in the Store

More info

• Features - what's implemented so far
• Backlog - what we plan to add next
• Team blog
• Report a bug or ask a question
• License
• Contributing

Code Example

To give you a flavor of what the code looks like, here is a snippet of XAML:

xmlns:canvas="using:Microsoft.Graphics.Canvas.UI.Xaml"

<Grid>
    <canvas:CanvasControl Draw="canvasControl_Draw" ClearColor="CornflowerBlue" />
</Grid>

and C#:

void canvasControl_Draw(CanvasControl sender, CanvasDrawEventArgs args)
{
    args.DrawingSession.DrawEllipse(155, 115, 80, 30, Colors.Black, 3);
    args.DrawingSession.DrawText("Hello, world!", 100, 100, Colors.Yellow);
}

Using Win2D

The documentation explains how to install Visual Studio, add the Win2D NuGet package to your project, and get started using the API.

Building Win2D from source

Requirements

• Recommended: Visual Studio 2015
• Visual Studio 2013 Update 5 is also supported (for Windows 8.1 or Windows Phone 8.1 development only)

Clone Repository

• Go to 'View' -> 'Team Explorer' -> 'Local Git Repositories' -> 'Clone'
• Add the Win2D repository URL (https://github.com/Microsoft/Win2D.git) and hit 'Clone'

Build NuGet Packages

• If using Visual Studio 2015:
  • Launch 'MSBuild Command Prompt for VS2015'
• If using Visual Studio 2013:
  • In Windows search, type 'Visual Studio Tools', and select that folder to open it
  • Launch 'Developer Command Prompt for VS2013'
• Change directory to your cloned Win2D repository and run 'build'

Point Visual Studio at the resulting 'bin' directory

• In Visual Studio, go to 'Tools' -> 'NuGet Package Manager' -> 'Package Manager Settings'
• Choose 'Package Sources'
• Click the '+' button to add a new source
• Set 'Name' to 'Win2D' (or a name of your choosing)
• Set 'Source' to the full path to the 'bin' directory (inside your cloned Win2D repository)
• Click the 'Update' button
• Click 'OK'

Locally built versions of Win2D are marked as prerelease, so you must change the 'Stable Only' setting to 'Include Prerelease' when adding them to your project.