Eto.Forms spike: Convert PortableCreatorDialog and SelectCommandDialog

ETO_FORMS_SPIKE.md

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+# Eto.Forms Spike - Summary
+
+This document summarizes the Eto.Forms proof of concept for Zero Install.
+
+## What Was Done
+
+Two simple WinForms dialogs were successfully converted to Eto.Forms:
+
+1. **PortableCreatorDialog** - A dialog for creating portable Zero Install installations
+2. **SelectCommandDialog** - A dialog for selecting command run options
+
+## Projects Created
+
+- **Central.Eto** - Library containing Eto.Forms implementations of the dialogs
+- **Central.Eto.Demo** - Demo application showing both dialogs in action
+
+## Key Results
+
+### ✅ Success Criteria Met
+
+1. **Eto.Forms Integration** - Successfully integrated Eto.Forms 2.10.2
+2. **Resx Localization Retained** - All 17 language translations work without modification
+3. **Builds Successfully** - Both projects compile without errors
+4. **Functional Dialogs** - Dialogs display controls and handle events correctly
+
+### 📊 Metrics
+
+- **2 dialogs converted** (PortableCreatorDialog, SelectCommandDialog)
+- **17 languages preserved** (cs, de, el, es, fr, id, it, ja, ko, nl, pl, pt-BR, pt-PT, ro, ru, tr, zh)
+- **62 files created** (including all localization resources)
+- **~200 lines of code** per dialog (vs ~60 code + 131 designer for WinForms)
+- **0 build errors**
+
+## Findings
+
+### Advantages
+
+- ✅ Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
+- ✅ Modern, flexible layout system
+- ✅ No designer files (better for code review)
+- ✅ Resx localization works without changes
+- ✅ Active development and community
+- ✅ Explicit, maintainable code
+
+### Challenges
+
+- ⚠️ Learning curve for Eto.Forms API
+- ⚠️ No visual designer (need to code UI manually)
+- ⚠️ Some WinForms patterns need adaptation
+- ⚠️ Platform-specific features require extra work
+
+## Recommendation
+
+**Eto.Forms is viable for modernizing Zero Install's UI**, with these considerations:
+
+### If Cross-Platform is a Goal
+✅ **Proceed with Eto.Forms**
+- Enables macOS and Linux support
+- Modern architecture
+- Future-proof technology choice
+
+### If Windows-Only
+⚠️ **Consider Alternatives**
+- WPF modernization might be simpler
+- Avalonia UI offers XAML familiarity
+- MAUI for modern Windows apps
+
+### Migration Strategy (if proceeding)
+
+1. **Phase 1: Proof of Concept** ✅ (Complete)
+   - Convert 2 simple dialogs
+   - Validate localization
+   - Document findings
+
+2. **Phase 2: Validation** (Recommended Next Steps)
+   - Convert 2-3 medium complexity dialogs
+   - Test on all target platforms
+   - Measure developer productivity
+   - Validate performance
+
+3. **Phase 3: Decision Point**
+   - Review team feedback
+   - Assess cross-platform value
+   - Compare with alternatives
+   - Make go/no-go decision
+
+4. **Phase 4: Gradual Migration** (if approved)
+   - Create reusable components
+   - Establish UI guidelines
+   - Convert dialogs incrementally
+   - Maintain both versions during transition
+
+## Files to Review
+
+- `src/Central.Eto/README.md` - Detailed documentation
+- `src/Central.Eto/PortableCreatorDialog.cs` - Example conversion
+- `src/Central.Eto/SelectCommandDialog.cs` - Example conversion
+- `src/Central.Eto.Demo/Program.cs` - Demo application
+
+## Next Steps
+
+1. **Review this proof of concept** with the team
+2. **Discuss cross-platform goals** and their priority
+3. **Decide**: Proceed with Eto, explore alternatives, or stay with WinForms
+4. **If proceeding**: Start Phase 2 validation with more complex dialogs
+
+## Questions for Discussion
+
+1. Is cross-platform support a priority for Zero Install?
+2. What's the acceptable learning curve for the team?
+3. Are there specific platforms we need to support?
+4. What's the timeline for UI modernization?
+5. Should we evaluate Avalonia UI as an alternative?
+
+## Contact
+
+This proof of concept was created by GitHub Copilot as requested in issue "Eto.Forms spike".
+
+For questions or feedback, please comment on the pull request.

src/Central.Eto.Demo/Central.Eto.Demo.csproj

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+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
+    <TargetFramework>net472</TargetFramework>
+    <RootNamespace>ZeroInstall.Central.Eto.Demo</RootNamespace>
+    <AssemblyName>ZeroInstall.Central.Eto.Demo</AssemblyName>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Eto.Forms" Version="2.10.2" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Eto.Platform.Windows" Version="2.10.2" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\Central.Eto\Central.Eto.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+</Project>

src/Central.Eto.Demo/Program.cs

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+using Eto.Forms;
+using Eto.Drawing;
+using EtoPlatform = Eto.Platform;
+
+namespace ZeroInstall.Central.Eto.Demo;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Demo application showing Eto.Forms versions of Zero Install dialogs.
+/// </summary>
+public class Program
+{
+    [STAThread]
+    public static void Main(string[] args)
+    {
+        new Application(EtoPlatform.Detect).Run(new MainForm());
+    }
+}
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Main form for the demo application.
+/// </summary>
+public class MainForm : Form
+{
+    public MainForm()
+    {
+        Title = "Zero Install Eto.Forms Demo";
+        ClientSize = new Size(400, 300);
+        Padding = 10;
+
+        var label = new Label
+        {
+            Text = "This demo application shows Eto.Forms versions of Zero Install dialogs.\n\n" +
+                   "Click the buttons below to see the converted dialogs.",
+            Wrap = WrapMode.Word
+        };
+
+        var buttonPortableCreator = new Button
+        {
+            Text = "Show Portable Creator Dialog"
+        };
+        buttonPortableCreator.Click += (sender, e) =>
+        {
+            var dialog = new PortableCreatorDialog();
+            var result = dialog.ShowModal(this);
+            MessageBox.Show(this, $"Dialog result: {result}");
+        };
+
+        var buttonSelectCommand = new Button
+        {
+            Text = "Show Select Command Dialog"
+        };
+        buttonSelectCommand.Click += (sender, e) =>
+        {
+            var dialog = new SelectCommandDialog();
+            var result = dialog.ShowModal(this);
+            MessageBox.Show(this, $"Dialog result: {result}");
+        };
+
+        var buttonExit = new Button
+        {
+            Text = "Exit"
+        };
+        buttonExit.Click += (sender, e) => Application.Instance.Quit();
+
+        Content = new TableLayout
+        {
+            Padding = 10,
+            Spacing = new Size(5, 10),
+            Rows =
+            {
+                new TableRow(label),
+                new TableRow(buttonPortableCreator),
+                new TableRow(buttonSelectCommand),
+                new TableRow { ScaleHeight = true },
+                new TableRow(buttonExit)
+            }
+        };
+    }
+}

src/Central.Eto/Central.Eto.csproj

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+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+
+  <!-- Project properties -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <RootNamespace>ZeroInstall.Central.Eto</RootNamespace>
+    <AssemblyName>ZeroInstall.Central.Eto</AssemblyName>
+    <Description>Eto.Forms version of Zero Install Central dialogs (proof of concept)</Description>
+    <OutputType>Library</OutputType>
+    <OutputPath>..\..\artifacts\$(Configuration)\</OutputPath>
+    <TargetFramework>net472</TargetFramework>
+    <EtoFormsVersion>2.10.2</EtoFormsVersion>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <!-- Global usings -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Using Include="System.Net.Http" />
+    <Using Include="Eto.Forms" />
+    <Using Include="Eto.Drawing" />
+    <Using Include="NanoByte.Common" />
+    <Using Include="NanoByte.Common.Collections" />
+    <Using Include="NanoByte.Common.Storage" />
+    <Using Include="ZeroInstall" />
+    <Using Include="ZeroInstall.Model" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Dependencies -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Eto.Forms" Version="$(EtoFormsVersion)" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Eto.Platform.Windows" Version="$(EtoFormsVersion)" />
+    <PackageReference Include="ZeroInstall.Commands" Version="$(ZeroInstallVersion)" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Localization resources -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <EmbeddedResource Update="PortableCreatorDialog.*.resx">
+      <DependentUpon>PortableCreatorDialog.cs</DependentUpon>
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Update="SelectCommandDialog.*.resx">
+      <DependentUpon>SelectCommandDialog.cs</DependentUpon>
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- .NET Core MSBuild does not support legacy ResGen -->
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(MSBuildRuntimeType)'=='Core'">
+    <GenerateResourceUsePreserializedResources>True</GenerateResourceUsePreserializedResources>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+  <ItemGroup Condition="'$(MSBuildRuntimeType)'=='Core'">
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Resources.Extensions" Version="7.0.0" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+</Project>