xtd

Write Once, Run Everywhere!

xtd (pronounced "extend") is a modern C++20/23 framework to create console (CLI), forms (GUI) and unit test (xUnit) multiplatform applications and libraries.

Latest news

• xtd 1.0.0 will require C++20 as the minimum standard - Posted on June 15, 2025
• Release xtd 0.1.2 (beta) - Posted on March 12, 2024
• The xtd 1.0.0 is growing - Posted on November 12, 2023
• Release xtd 0.1.1 (beta) - Posted on July 17, 2023
• All news

Features

• Free and open-source (MIT License);
• a collection of native C++ classes libraries, to extend std;
• API close to the .net API with a modern C++ approach and full integration with the std standard;
• xtd is designed to manage GUI controls and dialogs in pure native mode or with CSS styles.
• written in efficient, modern C++20/23 with RAII programming idiom;
• and highly portable and available on many different platforms;
• See features for more information.

xtd libraries architecture

xtd consists of several libraries.

xtd.core

The xtd.core library is modern C++20/23 libraries of classes, interfaces, and value types that provide access to system functionality. It is the foundation on which c++ applications, components, and controls are built.

xtd.drawing

The xtd.drawing library contains types that support basic GDI+ graphics functionality. Child namespaces support advanced two-dimensional and vector graphics functionality, advanced imaging functionality, and print-related and typographical services. A child namespace also contains types that extend design-time user-interface logic and drawing.

xtd.forms

The xtd.forms library contains classes for creating Windows-based applications that take full advantage of the rich user interface features available in the Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS and linux-based operating system.

xtd.tunit

The xtd.tunit library is a unit-testing framework for modern C++20, inspired by Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.Cpp.

Getting Started

• Installation provides download, install and uninstall documentation.
• Guides provides xtd guides and tutorials.
• Examples provides over 950 examples to help you use xtd, grouped by libraries and topics.

Development status

• Release notes provides release notes information.
• Roadmap provides a view of the xtd roadmap.
• Kanban board provides a Kanban view for all tasks (enhancements, pull requests, bugs, questions,...).
• Development status provides information about classes and libraries development status.
• Translation status provides information about translations status.

Current release status

This project is an open source project. The developers who participate do so on their own time. It is therefore difficult to set release dates.

But you can follow the evolution of the development. We keep the status up to date.

Continuous Integration build status

At each commit, a build and unit tests are performed for the following configurations

(*) xtd.core and xtd.tunit only.

Issues status

As xtd is managed by a Kanban project, the number of open issues can be quite large. The table below gives a clearer view on the number of open bugs/questions and enhancements.

(**) There is only one enhancement for xtd 0.1.0, as project management was not yet available.

Examples

The classic first application 'Hello World'.

Console (CLI)

This example demonstrates how to display a simple message in the console using xtd.

hello_world_console.cpp

#include <xtd/xtd>

class example {
public:
  static auto main() {
    console::background_color(console_color::blue);
    console::foreground_color(console_color::white);
    console::write_line("Hello, World!");
  }
};

startup_(example::main);

or simply

#include <xtd/xtd>

auto main() -> int {
  console::out << background_color(console_color::blue) << foreground_color(console_color::white) << "Hello, World!" << environment::new_line;
}

CMakeLists.txt

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)

project(hello_world_console)
find_package(xtd REQUIRED)
add_sources(hello_world_console.cpp)
target_type(CONSOLE_APPLICATION)

Build and run

Open "Command Prompt" or "Terminal". Navigate to the folder that contains the project and type the following:

xtdc run

Output

Coroutines C++20 with xtd::threading::tasks

This example asynchronously prints a greeting for each world in parallel, then waits for all greetings to be printed.

hello_world_coroutine.cpp

#include <xtd/xtd>

class program {
public:
  static auto main() async_ {
    auto worlds = {u8"World"_s, u8"Mundo"_s, u8"Monde"_s, u8"Mondo"_s, u8"モンド"_s, u8"世界"_s, u8"Welt"_s, u8"Мир"_s};
    co_await parallel::for_each_async(worlds, [](auto world) async_ {
      co_await task<>::delay(100_ms);
      println("Hello, {}!", world);
    });
  }
};

startup_(program::main);

or simply

#include <xtd/xtd>

auto main_async() -> task<> {
  auto worlds = {u8"World"_s, u8"Mundo"_s, u8"Monde"_s, u8"Mondo"_s, u8"モンド"_s, u8"世界"_s, u8"Welt"_s, u8"Мир"_s};
  co_await parallel::for_each_async(worlds, [](auto world) -> task<> {
    co_await task<>::delay(100_ms);
    println("Hello, {}!", world);
  });
}

auto main() -> int {
  return startup::run(main_async);
}

CMakeLists.txt

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)

project(hello_world_coroutine)
find_package(xtd REQUIRED)
add_sources(hello_world_coroutine.cpp)
target_type(CONSOLE_APPLICATION)

Build and run

Open "Command Prompt" or "Terminal". Navigate to the folder that contains the project and type the following:

xtdc run

Output

Hello, 世界!
Hello, Мир!
Hello, World!
Hello, Welt!
Hello, Mondo!
Hello, Monde!
Hello, モンド!
Hello, Mundo!

Forms (GUI like WinForms)

This example demonstrates how to create a simple graphical application using xtd forms.

hello_world_forms.cpp

#include <xtd/xtd>

class main_form : public form {
public:
  static auto main() {
    application::run(main_form {});
  }
  
  main_form() {
    text("Hello world (message_box)");

    button1.location({10, 10});
    button1.parent(self_);
    button1.text("&Click me");
    button1.click += delegate_ {
      message_box::show("Hello, World!");
    };
  }
  
private:
  button button1;
};

startup_(main_form::main);

or simply

#include <xtd/xtd>

auto main() -> int {
  auto main_form = form::create("Hello world (message_box)");
  auto button1 = button::create(main_form, "&Click me", {10, 10});
  button1.click += [] {message_box::show("Hello, World!");};
  application::run(main_form);
}

CMakeLists.txt

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)

project(hello_world_forms)
find_package(xtd REQUIRED)
add_sources(hello_world_forms.cpp)
target_type(GUI_APPLICATION)

Build and run

Open "Command Prompt" or "Terminal". Navigate to the folder that contains the project and type the following:

xtdc run

Output

Windows

macOS

Linux Gnome

tunit (Unit tests like Microsoft Unit Testing Framework)

This example demonstrates how to write and run unit tests using xtd.tunit.

hello_world_test.cpp

#include <xtd/xtd>

namespace unit_tests {
  class test_class_(hello_world_test) {
    auto test_method_(create_string_from_literal) {
      auto s = string {"Hello, World!"};
      valid_that(s.length()).is().equal_to(13_z);
      assert_that(s).is().equal_to("Hello, World!");
    }
    
    auto test_method_(create_string_from_chars) {
      auto s = string {'H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o', ',', ' ', 'W', 'o', 'r', 'l', 'd', '!'};
      valid_that(s.length()).is().equal_to(13_z);
      assert_that(s).does().start_with("Hello,").and_().does().end_with(" World!");
    }
    
    static auto main() {
      console_unit_test {}.run();
    }
  };
}

startup_(unit_tests::hello_world_test::main);

or without constraints

#include <xtd/xtd>

namespace unit_tests {
  class test_class_(hello_world_test) {
    auto test_method_(create_string_from_literal) {
      auto s = string {"Hello, World!"};
      valid::are_equal(13_z, s.length());
      assert::are_equal("Hello, World!", s);
    }
    
    auto test_method_(create_string_from_chars) {
      auto s = string {'H', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o', ',', ' ', 'W', 'o', 'r', 'l', 'd', '!'};
      valid::are_equal(13_z, s.length());
      string_assert::starts_with("Hello,", s);
      string_assert::does_end_with(" World!", s);
    }
    
    static auto main() {
      console_unit_test {}.run();
    }
  };
}

startup_(unit_tests::hello_world_test::main);

CMakeLists.txt

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20)

project(hello_world_test)
find_package(xtd REQUIRED)
add_sources(hello_world_test.cpp)
target_type(TEST_APPLICATION)

Build and run

Open "Command Prompt" or "Terminal". Navigate to the folder that contains the project and type the following:

xtdc run

Output

Visual Studio Output

Gallery

Minesweeper

minesweeper (on Windows)

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Game of Life

game_of_life (on macOS)

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xtdc-gui

xtdc-gui - Create a new project (on macOS)

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Calculator

calculator (on Ubuntu)

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Stopwatch

stopwatch (on Windows)

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Painting

painting (on Ubuntu)

Contributing

The authors file lists contributors together with contact information. If you make a contribution, please add yourself to the list.

Your contributions are welcome.

• First read Code of conduct and the design guidelines to make sure your contribution follows the rules.
• Fork the project and use a pull request for adding your contribution.
• If you encounter any problems, feel free to open an issue in the issues tracker. If you feel like there is a missing feature, please raise a ticket on Github. Pull requests are also welcome.

Your feedback is important for the evolution of the project.

Beginners

The following project aims to simplify and guide the way beginners make their first contribution. If you are looking to make your first contribution, check out the project below.

First Contributions

Now you are ready to make your first contribution to xtd.

See also

• website
• wiki
• github
• project
• Reference Guide
• Support

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