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ModernFormsNext v1.7.0

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@github-actions github-actions released this 04 Jul 13:24
· 313 commits to master since this release
v1.7.0
6b1f29e

Full Changelog: v1.6.0...v1.7.0

[1.7.0] - 2026-07-02

Compared with [1.6.0], this release adds the first ModernFormsNext designer stack, Visual Studio
extension packaging, designer document serialization, code generation, reverse parsing, and
design-time metadata infrastructure while preserving the code-first runtime model.

Published packages and artifacts:

  • ModernFormsNext
  • ModernFormsNext.Templates
  • ModernFormsNext.WindowKit
  • ModernFormsNext.WindowKit.Backend
  • ModernFormsNext.WindowKit.Backend.Windows
  • ModernFormsNext.Designing
  • ModernFormsNext.CodeGeneration
  • ModernFormsNext.Designer
  • ModernFormsNextDesigner.vsix

Added

  • Added ModernFormsNext.Designing with neutral .mfdesign document models, geometry types,
    design properties, JSON serialization, validation, selection services, metadata attributes,
    metadata reading, and document hosting primitives.
  • Added ModernFormsNext.CodeGeneration with deterministic C# .Designer.cs generation,
    member visibility handling, nested Controls.Add(...) generation, designer hash metadata,
    and a conservative Roslyn-based reverse parser for supported generated-code patterns.
  • Added ModernFormsNext.Designer, a reusable ModernFormsNext designer shell containing the
    toolbox, document outline, designer surface, property grid, output panel, status bar,
    settings, docking layout, runtime/placeholder rendering modes, auto-save, localization, and
    file services.
  • Added samples/ModernFormsNext.DesignerPlayground as a standalone designer host/test app.
  • Added ModernFormsNext.VisualStudioExtension and ModernFormsNext.VisualStudioExtension.Vsix
    for Visual Studio designer command registration, .mfdesign editor hosting, VSIX packaging,
    and Experimental Instance installation.
  • Added ModernFormsNext.VisualStudioDesignerHost, the out-of-process designer host used by the
    Visual Studio extension.
  • Added a BrushEditDialog for editing solid and gradient brushes with preview support.
  • Added English and Polish designer/extension UI strings.

Changed

  • Bumped the shared package version from 1.6.0 to 1.7.0.
  • Updated the application template to reference ModernFormsNext 1.7.0.
  • Updated the application template to include MainForm.cs, generated MainForm.Designer.cs,
    and companion MainForm.mfdesign.
  • Marked template designable files with ModernFormsNextDesigner=true and avoided
    <SubType>Form</SubType> so Visual Studio does not load the built-in WinForms designer.
  • Updated installation, template, and architecture documentation for the new designer workflow.

Fixed

  • Fixed Visual Studio extension packaging so the VSIX contains the package asset, generated
    package definition, extension assembly, and designer host files.
  • Fixed designable-file detection so ordinary Windows Forms files are not treated as
    ModernFormsNext designer files.
  • Fixed designer document path canonicalization so opening MainForm.cs, MainForm.Designer.cs,
    or MainForm.mfdesign resolves to one active designer session.
  • Fixed generated layout ordering for docked controls so Dock assignments are emitted before
    layout-affecting bounds where needed.

Removed

  • Removed the temporary Visual Studio extension test command from the command table.

Compatibility Notes

  • The designer is an MVP but uses the shared ModernFormsNext.Designer shell in both the
    playground and Visual Studio extension. It is intentionally not a separate WPF/WinForms UI.
  • .mfdesign remains the designer source of truth. Reverse sync from .Designer.cs is available
    as a conservative parser API, not as automatic destructive merge behavior.
  • The Visual Studio extension currently targets Visual Studio 2022/2026-compatible VSSDK ranges
    and uses an out-of-process ModernFormsNext host while the framework gets a more formal
    embeddable designer surface API.
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