Here is every GUI technology actually shipping on Windows today:
- Win32 (1985) – Still here. Still used. Petzold’s book still applies.
- MFC (1992) – C++ wrapper on Win32. Maintenance mode. Lives in enterprise and CAD.
- WinForms (2002) – .NET wrapper on Win32. “Available but discouraged.” Still fastest for data-entry forms.
- WPF (2006) – XAML, DirectX-rendered, open source. No new Microsoft investment.