Insights into the .Net Smart Components ecosystem

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing software development – ​​and the .NET Framework is no exception. Microsoft has released .NET Smart Components, a set of reusable UI components that make it easier for developers to access AI-powered features. In this article, we'll explore the potential of these new tools and how they can accelerate the development of AI-enabled applications. 

What are .NET Smart Components? 

The .NET Smart Components are a collection of ready-to-use sample components that enable seamless integration of AI functionalities into applications. Examples include automatic form filling using data from the clipboard, intelligent text completion, and semantic search. These components not only provide developers with templates for using AI but also inspiration for how such technologies can be reusable and easily integrated. 

Microsoft presents the Source code of the .NET Smart Components Available on GitHub as an open-source project. Developers and library authors can use the code as a basis for their own projects or improve it by contributing new ideas and suggestions directly via GitHub. 

Local computations with Semantic Kernel 

One of the standout features of .NET Smart Components is the integration of local embeddings. Using the Semantic Kernel framework, semantic similarities between texts can be calculated on the server. This is particularly useful for semantic search, where content is found not only based on keywords but also on its inherent meaning. Developers can either use this API directly or as a foundation for their own extensions and enhancements. 

Support from leading third-party providers 

There is already a growing number of third-party vendors building on the ideas of .NET Smart Components and adding their own innovations. Some of the best-known vendors are: 

  • Progress TelerikTelerik offers a pre-built AI prompt component that makes it easy to integrate AI services into ASP.NET Core, Blazor and .NET MAUI applications. DevExpressDevExpress is planning a number of AI-powered enhancements for an upcoming release. These include an AI-assisted text processing tool for Blazor, Windows Forms, and WPF, as well as an AI chat component for Blazor.  
  • SyncfusionSyncfusion has introduced a host of new AI features in its latest release. Highlights include an AI AssistView component for Blazor and .NET MAUI, as well as "Smart Paste" and "Smart TextArea" functions that significantly simplify data entry and search. 
Conclusion: Why .NET Smart Components are important 

With .NET Smart Components, Microsoft creates a solid foundation to simplify the integration of AI functions into .NET applications.