Progress report April 2025

We are nearing the release of X# 2.23, which is currently in beta. Initial feedback is positive, and we plan to publish a subscriber build and also a public build of this version shortly.
X# 2.23 will be the final release in the X# 2 series.

X# 3

Looking ahead, we are actively working on X# 3. This next major version introduces several key improvements and changes:

• Multi Targeting: X# 3 supports both .NET Framework (4.x) and the latest .NET versions (6, 7, 8, etc.).

• Enhanced Language Support: It is aligned with the latest C# compiler and includes new language features such as file-scoped namespaces and global using directives.

• Modern Project Format: X# 3 adopts the new SDK-style project format in Visual Studio, enabling multi-targeting. You’ll be able to compile your applications and libraries for .NET Framework 4.x and .NET 8 or 9 simultaneously, with separate output directories for each target. This format is also much simpler, and requires fewer updates when code is added to a project. Thus makes it easier to work with this format in team environments.

• NuGet Distribution: The X# runtime will be delivered via NuGet packages. For instance, referencing the XSharp.VO package will automatically include all necessary assemblies (XSharp.Core, XSharp.RT, XSharp.RDD, XSharp.VO, and XSharp.MacroCompiler). An additional package, XSharp.VOSDK, will provide the Visual Objects SDK classes (System Classes, RDD Classes, GUI Classes, etc.). These NuGet packages will be updated independently of the compiler and tools, streamlining the distribution of patches and runtime updates. They will also support multiple target frameworks.

While development of X# 3 is slightly behind schedule, we are aiming to release the first version before the summer.

Looking Ahead: A Milestone Year

This September marks the 10th anniversary of X#. It’s been an incredible journey since our initial announcement in the UK back in September 2015.
We plan to celebrate this milestone in a meaningful way—and we have some exciting announcements lined up for later this year.
Stay tuned!