xtd
xtd is a free, MIT-licensed C++20 framework for building cross-platform console, GUI, and unit-test applications on Windows, macOS, Linux, and several other operating systems. It provides native C++ class libraries with an API inspired by .NET but integrated with C++ standards.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | gammasoft71/xtd |
| Owner | gammasoft71 |
| Primary language | C++ |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 1.2k |
| Forks | 78 |
| Open issues | 98 |
| Latest release | Unknown |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/gammasoft71/xtd |
What xtd is
xtd is a multi-library C++20 framework (xtd.core, xtd.drawing, xtd.forms, xtd.tunit) using RAII idioms and CMake, supporting GUI controls in native mode or CSS-styled rendering. It targets 8+ platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, FreeBSD, Haiku, and SerenityOS.
Get the xtd source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/gammasoft71/xtd.gitcd xtd# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- C++20 compiler requirement (e.g., GCC 10+, Clang 10+, MSVC 2019+) must be available across all target platforms.
- CMake-based build system requires developers familiar with CMake configuration and platform-specific toolchain setup.
- GUI rendering differs between native mode and CSS-styled mode; design choice affects maintainability and consistency across platforms.
- 900+ examples are provided; leverage these heavily for learning API patterns, but expect to read source code due to pre-1.0 status.
- Native platform dependencies (e.g., GTK on Linux, Cocoa on macOS) must be present in deployment environments.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Need production-grade stability and long-term support — Latest release is 0.1.2 (beta, March 2024); version 1.0.0 remains in development with no stable release date. Active development but pre-1.0 status suggests ongoing breaking changes.
- Require extensive third-party ecosystem integrations — No data on integrations with popular libraries (databases, cloud SDKs, analytics). Unknown adoption in production means fewer community solutions.
- Team unfamiliar with C++20 or .NET-style APIs — Framework requires C++20 as minimum standard and uses .NET-inspired conventions; steep learning curve for teams not experienced with modern C++.
- Need commercial support contracts or guarantees — Open-source hobby/volunteer project with no vendor backing. No SLA, no guaranteed response times, no commercial support offerings.
License & commercial use
xtd is licensed under the MIT License, a permissive OSI-approved license allowing free use, modification, and distribution in proprietary and open-source projects.
MIT License permits commercial use without restriction, including proprietary applications. However, retain copyright/license notices in source distributions. No indemnification or warranty guarantees from maintainers; review license text for liability limitations before commercial deployment.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | High |
| DEV.co fit | Possible |
| Assessment confidence | Medium |
No explicit security audit or vulnerability disclosure data provided. As a native GUI framework, it interfaces with OS-level GUI APIs (GTK, Cocoa, Win32); inherited security posture depends on those libraries. Developers must review and patch native dependencies independently. No mention of memory safety guarantees beyond C++20 RAII idioms; code review and testing required before handling sensitive data.
Alternatives to consider
Qt (open-source or commercial)
Mature, stable, widely adopted cross-platform GUI framework with extensive ecosystem. Qt 6 supports C++17+, longer release cycles, and strong commercial support option.
wxWidgets
Stable, long-established C++ GUI toolkit for Windows, macOS, Linux. Less modern language design but proven in production; less C++20-focused.
Electron or Tauri (if web-based UI acceptable)
Web-first approach with JavaScript/TypeScript or Rust; easier cross-platform deployment and larger ecosystem, though different programming model.
Build on xtd with DEV.co software developers
Review the 900+ examples, test builds on your target platforms, and assess C++20 compiler readiness. For production use, plan for ongoing dependency management and cross-platform testing. Contact us to discuss integration strategy.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
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xtd FAQ
Is xtd ready for production?
What platforms can I target?
Can I use xtd in a commercial product?
What is the learning curve?
Software development & web development with DEV.co
Adopting xtd is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source testing software in production.
Ready to evaluate xtd for your project?
Review the 900+ examples, test builds on your target platforms, and assess C++20 compiler readiness. For production use, plan for ongoing dependency management and cross-platform testing. Contact us to discuss integration strategy.