Build a modern Windows desktop app from an existing Java or Kotlin codebase without rewriting in C#.
Create a PC client for an online service with native Windows controls and screen reader support.
Prototype a Windows UI quickly by running the included gallery app to see available controls.
| nttr-tech/winui4k | denizaydogan1902/anvilai | mfori/bit-aes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Language | Kotlin | Kotlin | Kotlin |
| Last pushed | — | — | 2020-05-11 |
| Maintenance | — | — | Dormant |
| Setup difficulty | moderate | hard | moderate |
| Complexity | 3/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Audience | developer | developer | developer |
Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.
Requires Windows and JDK 25 to build the repository, plus the Windows App SDK runtime which installs automatically on first run.
WinUI4K lets developers build native Windows desktop applications using Kotlin or Java, without needing C#, Visual Studio, or a bridging component. WinUI is the user interface framework that Microsoft promotes as the standard for Windows 11 apps, and this project makes it accessible to teams working in JVM languages. It calls Windows' binary-level interface directly from Java, so there is no intermediate native library to manage. The project was created by NTT Resonant Technology, partly with the goal of using it for a PC client of "Remote TestKit," a service for renting real smartphones online. It is released under the Apache 2.0 license and can be used freely for commercial and non-commercial projects alike. The library wraps over 60 Windows UI controls as Kotlin classes, covering everything from basic buttons and text fields to navigation views, tooltips, notifications, and embedded web browser controls. It supports Kotlin coroutines for asynchronous work, and because it uses the operating system's own controls, accessibility tools like screen readers work without extra setup. It can run on Java 8 or later, with three different mechanisms for calling native Windows code so developers can choose based on their Java version. The README positions this as a solution for teams with existing Java or Kotlin codebases who want a modern Windows interface without rewriting their software in C# or switching to web-based desktop frameworks that bundle a browser engine. The tradeoff is that it only works on Windows, and developers must manage cleanup of event listeners manually to avoid memory issues. Getting started requires cloning the repository and running a single Gradle command, which launches a gallery app demonstrating the available controls. If the Windows App SDK runtime is not already installed, it is set up automatically on first run. The README also notes that building the repository requires JDK 25, though applications built with the library can target older Java versions. The full README is longer than what was shown.
Build native Windows desktop apps with Kotlin or Java directly, without C#, Visual Studio, or a web framework. Wraps over 60 standard Windows UI controls as Kotlin classes.
Mainly Kotlin. The stack also includes Kotlin, Java, Gradle.
Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you include the license notice.
Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.
Mainly developer.
This repo across BitVibe Labs
Verify against the repo before relying on details.