WPF DevTools MCP Server
Search Results for

    Show / Hide Table of Contents

    Compatibility Matrix

    Runtime compatibility

    Target application Inspector runtime path Notes
    .NET Framework WPF net48 inspector path Requires matching bootstrapper architecture
    .NET 8+ WPF net8.0-windows inspector path Requires matching bootstrapper architecture
    .NET 6/7 WPF No shipped raw-injection inspector path Not currently supported by raw injection; upgrade the target app to .NET 8+ or wait for explicit SDK/inspector target expansion

    Architecture compatibility

    Target process architecture Recommended server/bootstrapper build Notes
    x86 x86 / Win32 Required for cross-bitness safety
    x64 x64 Recommended default for most modern WPF apps
    ARM64 ARM64 Use only on native ARM64 targets

    Architecture matching is mandatory for raw injection/bootstrapper fallback. SDK-hosted reuse communicates over named pipes and does not require matching process bitness once the target-side host is already running.

    Known unsupported or constrained scenarios

    Self-contained single-file WPF apps

    • Raw injection path: Not supported.
    • Overall support posture: Supported through SDK-host reuse.
    • Notes: The native injection path cannot rely on the expected assembly layout. Call InspectorSdk.Initialize() in the target app with matching transport settings so connect() can reuse the existing host.

    Native AOT

    • Raw injection path: Not supported.
    • Overall support posture: Not supported.
    • Notes: WPF DevTools does not support Native AOT targets today. SDK-hosted reuse is not a Native AOT workaround because the Inspector SDK requires managed WPF runtime and assembly access.

    Trimmed apps

    • Raw injection path: Risky / partial.
    • Overall support posture: Prefer SDK-host reuse.
    • Notes: Required types may be removed, making raw injection or inspector startup unreliable.

    Non-WPF desktop UI stacks

    • Raw injection path: Not supported.
    • Overall support posture: Not supported.
    • Notes: This server is WPF-specific.

    Practical guidance

    • Use get_processes as the runtime architecture truth source.
    • Treat x86 and x64 as separate deployment targets.
    • When you own the target app, prefer SDK-hosted reuse; raw injection remains the fallback path for zero-instrumentation diagnostics.
    • .NET 6/7 WPF targets do not have a shipped raw-injection inspector path today. Do not assume net8.0-windows can be injected into those processes.
    • If single-file packaging blocks raw injection, start the target-side SDK host with InspectorSdk.Initialize() and matching transport settings so connect() can reuse it.
    • Native AOT remains unsupported; SDK-hosted reuse is not a Native AOT workaround.
    • Validate bootstrapper and inspector selection before calling connect in automation.
    • Edit this page
    In this article
    Back to top WPF DevTools MCP Server documentation for users, operators, and contributors.