Avalonia XAML

Overview

Avalonia uses .axaml extension (not .xaml) to avoid Visual Studio WPF tooling conflicts. XAML is optional; full code-only UI is supported. (12.0+) compiled bindings are ON by default (AvaloniaUseCompiledBindingsByDefault=true): {Binding} maps to CompiledBinding, so x:DataType is required wherever bindings are used. In 11.x compiled bindings are opt-in ({CompiledBinding} / x:CompileBindings="True"). Escape hatch: {ReflectionBinding Path} or x:CompileBindings="False".

File Structure

Every .axaml file requires the Avalonia root namespace and language namespace:

<Window xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:vm="using:MyApp.ViewModels"
        x:Class="MyApp.MainWindow"
        x:DataType="vm:MainWindowViewModel"
        Title="My App"
        Width="800" Height="450">

    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Greeting}" />