In January 2026, Microsoft announced the public preview of the WinApp CLI, a new command-line tool intended to consolidate common Windows application development tasks into a single interface. The too

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Microsoft has released a public preview of WinApp CLI, an open-source command-line tool designed to unify Windows application development workflows across frameworks including .NET, C++, Electron, and Rust. Key features include a single `winapp init` command for environment setup (SDK downloads, manifest generation, certificate creation), a `create-debug-identity` command that lets developers attach package identity to executables without full MSIX packaging, and automation for signing and CI/CD integration via GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps. The tool also supports Electron and Node.js scenarios, including experimental Windows API projections. Available via WinGet and npm, it is positioned as a complement to IDE-based workflows rather than a replacement. Version 0.2.0 was released in February 2026 with bug fixes; breaking changes are expected before general availability.

Microsoft Introduces WinApp CLI to Unify Windows App Development Workflows