Paul Krill
Editor at Large

Visual Studio gets an app for sketch-based UI prototyping

news
Jan 31, 20181 min

The experimental Ink to Code app for Windows 10 helps build user interfaces for Windows and Android, as well as facilitate developer collaboration

futuristic user interface - heads-up display
Credit: Thinkstock

Microsoft Garage, an outlet for experimental projects at the company, is offering an app to help Visual Studio users prototype interfaces for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications for Windows 10 as well as for Android apps.

Called Ink to Code, this Windows 10 app lets developers build wireframe sketches and export them to Visual Studio, making it quicker to prototype interfaces. Developers and designers can use the app for collaboration, with Ink to Code providing a canvas for brainstorming meetings and bridging the gap between collaborators with different levels of technical knowledge.

Sketches of basic elements are captured and translated into the early incarnations of an application. Initially, visual elements are supported such as labels, text fields and images.

Ink to Code uses the Smart Ink technology built into UWP. Introduced last year in the Windows 10 Creators Update, Smart Ink uses artificial intelligence to understand a user’s writing and intent. Smart Ink was added to Windows Ink.

Where to download Ink to Code

You can download Ink to Code for free from the Microsoft Store. It is available in the United States and Canada at the moment.

Paul Krill

Paul Krill is editor at large at InfoWorld. Paul has been covering computer technology as a news and feature reporter for more than 35 years, including 30 years at InfoWorld. He has specialized in coverage of software development tools and technologies since the 1990s, and he continues to lead InfoWorld’s news coverage of software development platforms including Java and .NET and programming languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, and Go. Long trusted as a reporter who prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and the best interests of readers, Paul is sought out by technology companies and industry organizations who want to reach InfoWorld’s audience of software developers and other information technology professionals. Paul has won a “Best Technology News Coverage” award from IDG.

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