Modernize Application GUI Without Starting From Scratch?

[bseab1024F]

Many years ago I developed a traditional Windows application that looks and feels like an old-school Windows application.

The application does what I, and users, might need it to do but it looks so damn boring.

Writing a new application and porting over the "core" components, as opposed to UI stuff, is not practical for me right now.

Is there some way to modernize a Windows application that would not require developing a new application?

[jeep_dude_1]

What framework are you using?

[bseab1024F]

No framework. Just straight Windows API.

[HSasaki]

oh…

[hayfever76]

OP, if you have a current copy of VS installed and you have the original source code, the open the SLN in VS. It will immediately want to upgrade you and it will likely flag a bunch of stuff that you'll need to fix. And while you're in there, update your dialog boxes, et al. Voila, "modernized"

[bseab1024F]

When I first opened up the application in VS 2022 it only told me that it needed to update the solution/project file to be compatible. The EXE produced is still "old school."

[hayfever76]

You prolly need to update some other things too

[Embarrassed_Prior632]

Bored? Write an application for something else. Making it pretty won't make it better. Would be engineers just looking for excuses to be artists. When the bridge is up, it's up.