CmdPal: Add mini dev center (#43939)

## Summary of the Pull Request

This PR introduces a small ribbon to the CmdPal for app developers. The
dev ribbon is dynamically added to the main window in local (non-CI)
builds. It shows the number of logged errors and warnings, the current
build configuration (Debug or Release), and whether it’s built with AOT.

The flyout shows the latest errors and warnings and lets you quickly
access the logs.


## Pictures? Pictures!

<img width="985" height="589" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/6528b02b-b4b4-4968-91bf-e67a29f86415"
/>


<!-- Please review the items on the PR checklist before submitting-->
## PR Checklist

- [x] Closes: #43318
<!-- - [ ] Closes: #yyy (add separate lines for additional resolved
issues) -->
- [ ] **Communication:** I've discussed this with core contributors
already. If the work hasn't been agreed, this work might be rejected
- [ ] **Tests:** Added/updated and all pass
- [ ] **Localization:** All end-user-facing strings can be localized
- [ ] **Dev docs:** Added/updated
- [ ] **New binaries:** Added on the required places
- [ ] [JSON for
signing](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ESRPSigning_core.json)
for new binaries
- [ ] [WXS for
installer](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/installer/PowerToysSetup/Product.wxs)
for new binaries and localization folder
- [ ] [YML for CI
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ci/templates/build-powertoys-steps.yml)
for new test projects
- [ ] [YML for signed
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/release.yml)
- [ ] **Documentation updated:** If checked, please file a pull request
on [our docs
repo](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-uwp/tree/docs/hub/powertoys)
and link it here: #xxx

<!-- Provide a more detailed description of the PR, other things fixed,
or any additional comments/features here -->
## Detailed Description of the Pull Request / Additional comments

<!-- Describe how you validated the behavior. Add automated tests
wherever possible, but list manual validation steps taken as well -->
## Validation Steps Performed

.github/actions/spell-check/expect.txt

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ ANull
 AOC
 aocfnapldcnfbofgmbbllojgocaelgdd
 AOklab
+aot
 APARTMENTTHREADED
 APeriod
 apicontract

src/common/ManagedCommon/Logger.cs

@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ namespace ManagedCommon
         /// </summary>
         public static string CurrentVersionLogDirectoryPath { get; private set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the path to the current log file.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static string CurrentLogFile { get; private set; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets the path to the log directory for the app.
         /// </summary>
@@ -55,7 +60,9 @@ namespace ManagedCommon
             AppLogDirectoryPath = basePath;
             CurrentVersionLogDirectoryPath = versionedPath;
 
-            var logFilePath = Path.Combine(versionedPath, "Log_" + DateTime.Now.ToString(@"yyyy-MM-dd", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) + ".log");
+            var logFile = "Log_" + DateTime.Now.ToString(@"yyyy-MM-dd", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) + ".log";
+            var logFilePath = Path.Combine(versionedPath, logFile);
+            CurrentLogFile = logFilePath;
 
             Trace.Listeners.Add(new TextWriterTraceListener(logFilePath));
 

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Controls/DevRibbon.xaml

@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
+<UserControl
+    x:Class="Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Controls.DevRibbon"
+    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
+    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+    xmlns:controls="using:CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Controls"
+    xmlns:converters="using:CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Converters"
+    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
+    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
+    xmlns:viewModels="using:Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels"
+    mc:Ignorable="d">
+
+    <UserControl.Resources>
+        <DataTemplate x:Key="LogEntryTemplate" x:DataType="viewModels:LogEntryViewModel">
+            <controls:SettingsExpander Description="{x:Bind Description}" Header="{x:Bind Header}">
+                <controls:SettingsExpander.HeaderIcon>
+                    <FontIcon Glyph="{x:Bind SeverityGlyph}" />
+                </controls:SettingsExpander.HeaderIcon>
+                <controls:SettingsExpander.Items>
+                    <controls:SettingsCard HorizontalContentAlignment="Stretch" ContentAlignment="Vertical">
+                        <ScrollViewer
+                            MaxWidth="1160"
+                            HorizontalScrollMode="Auto"
+                            VerticalScrollMode="Auto">
+                            <TextBlock
+                                FontFamily="Consolas"
+                                FontSize="11"
+                                Foreground="{ThemeResource SystemControlPageTextBaseMediumBrush}"
+                                IsTextSelectionEnabled="True"
+                                Text="{x:Bind Details}"
+                                TextWrapping="NoWrap" />
+                        </ScrollViewer>
+                    </controls:SettingsCard>
+                </controls:SettingsExpander.Items>
+            </controls:SettingsExpander>
+        </DataTemplate>
+
+        <converters:BoolToVisibilityConverter
+            x:Key="InvertedBoolToVisibilityConverter"
+            FalseValue="Visible"
+            TrueValue="Collapsed" />
+
+    </UserControl.Resources>
+
+    <Grid>
+        <Border
+            x:Name="RootBorder"
+            Height="26"
+            HorizontalAlignment="Right"
+            VerticalAlignment="Top"
+            Background="{ThemeResource SettingsCardBackground}"
+            BorderBrush="{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorFlyoutBrush}"
+            BorderThickness="1,0,1,1"
+            CornerRadius="0,0,8,8"
+            Opacity="0.3">
+            <Button
+                Padding="0"
+                CornerRadius="0,0,8,8"
+                FontSize="11"
+                PointerEntered="DevRibbonButton_PointerEntered"
+                PointerExited="DevRibbonButton_PointerExited">
+                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
+                    <StackPanel
+                        Padding="8,4"
+                        VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                        Background="DarkOrange"
+                        Orientation="Horizontal"
+                        Visibility="{x:Bind VisibleIfGreaterThanZero(ViewModel.WarningCount), Mode=OneWay}">
+                        <FontIcon
+                            Margin="0,0,8,0"
+                            VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                            FontFamily="{ThemeResource SymbolThemeFontFamily}"
+                            FontSize="12"
+                            Glyph="&#xE7BA;" />
+                        <TextBlock VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                            <Run Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.WarningCount, Mode=OneWay}" />
+                        </TextBlock>
+                    </StackPanel>
+                    <StackPanel
+                        Padding="8,4"
+                        VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                        Background="Maroon"
+                        Orientation="Horizontal"
+                        Visibility="{x:Bind VisibleIfGreaterThanZero(ViewModel.ErrorCount), Mode=OneWay}">
+                        <FontIcon
+                            Margin="0,0,8,0"
+                            VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                            FontFamily="{ThemeResource SymbolThemeFontFamily}"
+                            FontSize="12"
+                            Glyph="&#xEA39;" />
+                        <TextBlock VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                            <Run Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.ErrorCount, Mode=OneWay}" />
+                        </TextBlock>
+                    </StackPanel>
+                    <Border Padding="8,4">
+                        <Border.Background>
+                            <SolidColorBrush Color="{x:Bind ViewModel.TagColor}" />
+                        </Border.Background>
+                        <TextBlock Padding="4" VerticalAlignment="Center">
+                            <Run Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.Tag}" />
+                        </TextBlock>
+                    </Border>
+                </StackPanel>
+
+                <Button.Flyout>
+                    <Flyout
+                        Placement="Bottom"
+                        ShouldConstrainToRootBounds="False"
+                        SystemBackdrop="{ThemeResource AcrylicBackgroundFillColorDefaultBackdrop}">
+                        <Flyout.FlyoutPresenterStyle>
+                            <Style BasedOn="{StaticResource DefaultFlyoutPresenterStyle}" TargetType="FlyoutPresenter">
+                                <Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="600" />
+                                <Setter Property="MaxWidth" Value="1200" />
+                                <Setter Property="Padding" Value="0" />
+                            </Style>
+                        </Flyout.FlyoutPresenterStyle>
+
+                        <Grid x:Name="FlyoutContent">
+                            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                <RowDefinition Height="*" />
+                                <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
+                            </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+
+                            <StackPanel Padding="16" Spacing="8">
+
+                                <!--  Logs section  -->
+                                <TextBlock
+                                    Margin="1,0,0,6"
+                                    Style="{ThemeResource SettingsSectionHeaderTextBlockStyle}"
+                                    Text="Logs" />
+                                <ItemsControl ItemTemplate="{StaticResource LogEntryTemplate}" ItemsSource="{x:Bind ViewModel.LatestLogs, Mode=OneWay}" />
+                                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Spacing="8">
+                                    <Button Command="{x:Bind ViewModel.OpenLogFileCommand}" Content="Open Log File" />
+                                    <Button Command="{x:Bind ViewModel.OpenLogFolderCommand}" Content="Open Log Folder" />
+                                    <Button Command="{x:Bind ViewModel.ResetErrorCountersCommand}" Content="Clear Counters" />
+                                </StackPanel>
+
+                                <!--  Build info section  -->
+                                <TextBlock Style="{ThemeResource SettingsSectionHeaderTextBlockStyle}" Text="Build Info" />
+                                <Border
+                                    Padding="16"
+                                    Background="{ThemeResource SettingsCardBackground}"
+                                    BorderBrush="{ThemeResource SettingsCardBorderBrush}"
+                                    BorderThickness="1">
+                                    <Grid ColumnSpacing="8">
+                                        <Grid.Resources>
+                                            <Style
+                                                x:Key="KeyTextBlockStyle"
+                                                BasedOn="{StaticResource CaptionTextBlockStyle}"
+                                                TargetType="TextBlock">
+                                                <Setter Property="IsTextSelectionEnabled" Value="True" />
+                                                <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{ThemeResource TextFillColorSecondaryBrush}" />
+                                            </Style>
+                                            <Style
+                                                x:Key="ValueTextBlockStyle"
+                                                BasedOn="{StaticResource CaptionTextBlockStyle}"
+                                                TargetType="TextBlock">
+                                                <Setter Property="IsTextSelectionEnabled" Value="True" />
+                                                <Setter Property="TextAlignment" Value="Right" />
+                                            </Style>
+                                        </Grid.Resources>
+                                        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                            <ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
+                                            <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
+                                        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
+                                        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                            <RowDefinition />
+                                            <RowDefinition />
+                                            <RowDefinition />
+                                        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+                                        <TextBlock
+                                            Grid.Row="0"
+                                            Grid.Column="0"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource KeyTextBlockStyle}"
+                                            Text="Configuration:" />
+                                        <TextBlock
+                                            Grid.Row="0"
+                                            Grid.Column="1"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource ValueTextBlockStyle}"
+                                            Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.BuildConfiguration, Mode=OneWay}" />
+
+                                        <TextBlock
+                                            Grid.Row="1"
+                                            Grid.Column="0"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource KeyTextBlockStyle}"
+                                            Text="AOT:" />
+                                        <TextBlock
+                                            Grid.Row="1"
+                                            Grid.Column="1"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource ValueTextBlockStyle}"
+                                            Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.IsAot, Mode=OneWay}" />
+
+                                        <TextBlock
+                                            Grid.Row="2"
+                                            Grid.Column="0"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource KeyTextBlockStyle}"
+                                            Text="Trimmed:" />
+                                        <TextBlock
+                                            Grid.Row="2"
+                                            Grid.Column="1"
+                                            Style="{StaticResource ValueTextBlockStyle}"
+                                            Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.IsPublishTrimmed, Mode=OneWay}" />
+
+                                    </Grid>
+                                </Border>
+                            </StackPanel>
+
+                            <!--  Footer  -->
+                            <Border
+                                Grid.Row="1"
+                                Padding="16"
+                                Background="{ThemeResource SettingsCardBackground}"
+                                BorderBrush="{ThemeResource SettingsCardBorderBrush}"
+                                BorderThickness="1"
+                                CornerRadius="{ThemeResource ControlCornerRadius}"
+                                Visibility="{x:Bind ViewModel.IsAotReleaseConfiguration, Mode=OneWay, Converter={StaticResource InvertedBoolToVisibilityConverter}}">
+                                <TextBlock Text="Warning: Test in Release/AOT configuration to verify everything works." TextWrapping="Wrap" />
+                            </Border>
+
+                        </Grid>
+                    </Flyout>
+                </Button.Flyout>
+            </Button>
+        </Border>
+        <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
+            <VisualStateGroup x:Name="CommonStates">
+                <VisualState x:Name="Normal" />
+                <VisualState x:Name="PointerOver">
+                    <Storyboard>
+                        <DoubleAnimation
+                            Storyboard.TargetName="RootBorder"
+                            Storyboard.TargetProperty="Opacity"
+                            To="1.0"
+                            Duration="0:0:0.1" />
+                    </Storyboard>
+                </VisualState>
+            </VisualStateGroup>
+            <VisualStateGroup x:Name="SeverityStates">
+                <VisualState x:Name="NoLog" />
+                <VisualState x:Name="WarningLog">
+                    <Storyboard>
+                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="SeverityIcon" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Glyph">
+                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="&#xE7BA;" />
+                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
+                    </Storyboard>
+                </VisualState>
+                <VisualState x:Name="ErrorLog">
+                    <Storyboard>
+                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="SeverityIcon" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Glyph">
+                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="&#xEA39;" />
+                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
+                    </Storyboard>
+                </VisualState>
+            </VisualStateGroup>
+        </VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
+    </Grid>
+</UserControl>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Controls/DevRibbon.xaml.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Input;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Controls;
+
+internal sealed partial class DevRibbon : UserControl
+{
+    public ViewModels.DevRibbonViewModel ViewModel { get; }
+
+    public DevRibbon()
+    {
+        InitializeComponent();
+        ViewModel = new ViewModels.DevRibbonViewModel();
+
+        if (FlyoutContent != null)
+        {
+            FlyoutContent.DataContext = ViewModel;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void DevRibbonButton_PointerEntered(object sender, PointerRoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, "PointerOver", true);
+    }
+
+    private void DevRibbonButton_PointerExited(object sender, PointerRoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, "Normal", true);
+    }
+
+    private Visibility VisibleIfGreaterThanZero(int value)
+    {
+        return value > 0 ? Visibility.Visible : Visibility.Collapsed;
+    }
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Helpers/BuildInfo.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System.Reflection;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Helpers;
+
+internal static class BuildInfo
+{
+#if DEBUG
+    public const string Configuration = "Debug";
+#else
+    public const string Configuration = "Release";
+#endif
+
+    // Runtime AOT detection
+    public static bool IsNativeAot => !RuntimeFeature.IsDynamicCodeSupported;
+
+    // From assembly metadata (build-time values)
+    public static bool PublishTrimmed => GetBoolMetadata("PublishTrimmed", false);
+
+    // From assembly metadata (build-time values)
+    public static bool PublishAot => GetBoolMetadata("PublishAot", false);
+
+    public static bool IsCiBuild => GetBoolMetadata("CIBuild", false);
+
+    private static string? GetMetadata(string key) =>
+        Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()
+            .GetCustomAttributes<AssemblyMetadataAttribute>()
+            .FirstOrDefault(a => a.Key == key)?.Value;
+
+    private static bool GetBoolMetadata(string key, bool defaultValue) =>
+        bool.TryParse(GetMetadata(key), out var result) ? result : defaultValue;
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/MainWindow.xaml

@@ -14,5 +14,7 @@
     Activated="MainWindow_Activated"
     Closed="MainWindow_Closed"
     mc:Ignorable="d">
-    <pages:ShellPage x:Name="RootShellPage" />
+    <Grid x:Name="RootElement">
+        <pages:ShellPage />
+    </Grid>
 </winuiex:WindowEx>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ using Microsoft.CmdPal.Core.Common.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Core.Common.Services;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Core.ViewModels.Messages;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.ClipboardHistory.Messages;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Controls;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Events;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Helpers;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Messages;
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : WindowEx,
         ExtendsContentIntoTitleBar = true;
         AppWindow.TitleBar.PreferredHeightOption = TitleBarHeightOption.Collapsed;
         SizeChanged += WindowSizeChanged;
-        RootShellPage.Loaded += RootShellPage_Loaded;
+        RootElement.Loaded += RootElementLoaded;
 
         WM_TASKBAR_RESTART = PInvoke.RegisterWindowMessage("TaskbarCreated");
 
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : WindowEx,
         App.Current.Services.GetService<SettingsModel>()!.SettingsChanged += SettingsChangedHandler;
 
         // Make sure that we update the acrylic theme when the OS theme changes
-        RootShellPage.ActualThemeChanged += (s, e) => DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(UpdateAcrylic);
+        RootElement.ActualThemeChanged += (s, e) => DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(UpdateAcrylic);
 
         // Hardcoding event name to avoid bringing in the PowerToys.interop dependency. Event name must match CMDPAL_SHOW_EVENT from shared_constants.h
         NativeEventWaiter.WaitForEventLoop("Local\\PowerToysCmdPal-ShowEvent-62336fcd-8611-4023-9b30-091a6af4cc5a", () =>
@@ -165,11 +166,18 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : WindowEx,
 
     private void SettingsChangedHandler(SettingsModel sender, object? args) => HotReloadSettings();
 
-    private void RootShellPage_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) =>
-
+    private void RootElementLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
         // Now that our content has loaded, we can update our draggable regions
         UpdateRegionsForCustomTitleBar();
 
+        // Add dev ribbon if enabled
+        if (!BuildInfo.IsCiBuild)
+        {
+            RootElement.Children.Add(new DevRibbon { Margin = new Thickness(-1, -1, 120, -1) });
+        }
+    }
+
     private void WindowSizeChanged(object sender, WindowSizeChangedEventArgs args) => UpdateRegionsForCustomTitleBar();
 
     private void PositionCentered()
@@ -658,28 +666,28 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : WindowEx,
     private void UpdateRegionsForCustomTitleBar()
     {
         // Specify the interactive regions of the title bar.
-        var scaleAdjustment = RootShellPage.XamlRoot.RasterizationScale;
+        var scaleAdjustment = RootElement.XamlRoot.RasterizationScale;
 
         // Get the rectangle around our XAML content. We're going to mark this
         // rectangle as "Passthrough", so that the normal window operations
         // (resizing, dragging) don't apply in this space.
-        var transform = RootShellPage.TransformToVisual(null);
+        var transform = RootElement.TransformToVisual(null);
 
         // Reserve 16px of space at the top for dragging.
         var topHeight = 16;
         var bounds = transform.TransformBounds(new Rect(
             0,
             topHeight,
-            RootShellPage.ActualWidth,
-            RootShellPage.ActualHeight));
+            RootElement.ActualWidth,
+            RootElement.ActualHeight));
         var contentRect = GetRect(bounds, scaleAdjustment);
         var rectArray = new RectInt32[] { contentRect };
         var nonClientInputSrc = InputNonClientPointerSource.GetForWindowId(this.AppWindow.Id);
         nonClientInputSrc.SetRegionRects(NonClientRegionKind.Passthrough, rectArray);
 
         // Add a drag-able region on top
-        var w = RootShellPage.ActualWidth;
-        _ = RootShellPage.ActualHeight;
+        var w = RootElement.ActualWidth;
+        _ = RootElement.ActualHeight;
         var dragSides = new RectInt32[]
         {
             GetRect(new Rect(0, 0, w, topHeight), scaleAdjustment), // the top, {topHeight=16} tall

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.csproj

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
+  <LangVersion>preview</LangVersion>
 
     <Version>$(CmdPalVersion)</Version>
 
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@
   <!-- For debugging purposes, uncomment this block to enable AOT builds -->
    <!--<PropertyGroup>
     <EnableCmdPalAOT>true</EnableCmdPalAOT>
-    <CIBuild>true</CIBuild>
+    <GeneratePackageLocally>true</GeneratePackageLocally>
   </PropertyGroup>--> 
 
   <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(EnableCmdPalAOT)' == 'true'">
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@
     <PublishAot>true</PublishAot>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
-  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(CIBuild)'=='true'">
+  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(CIBuild)' == 'true' or '$(GeneratePackageLocally)' == 'true'">
     <GenerateAppxPackageOnBuild>true</GenerateAppxPackageOnBuild>
     <AppxBundle>Never</AppxBundle>
     <AppxPackageTestDir>$(OutputPath)\AppPackages\Microsoft.CmdPal.UI_$(Version)_Test\</AppxPackageTestDir>
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <None Remove="Controls\ActionBar.xaml" />
+    <None Remove="Controls\DevRibbon.xaml" />
     <None Remove="Controls\KeyVisual\KeyCharPresenter.xaml" />
     <None Remove="Controls\SearchBar.xaml" />
     <None Remove="IsEnabledTextBlock.xaml" />
@@ -168,6 +170,9 @@
     <Page Update="Controls\SearchBar.xaml">
       <Generator>MSBuild:Compile</Generator>
     </Page>
+    <Page Update="Controls\DevRibbon.xaml">
+      <Generator>MSBuild:Compile</Generator>
+    </Page>
     <Page Update="Styles\TextBox.xaml">
       <XamlRuntime>$(DefaultXamlRuntime)</XamlRuntime>
     </Page>
@@ -235,4 +240,24 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   <!-- </AdaptiveCardsWorkaround> -->
 
+  <!-- Metadata for build information  -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <AssemblyAttribute Include="System.Reflection.AssemblyMetadataAttribute">
+      <_Parameter1>PublishTrimmed</_Parameter1>
+      <_Parameter2>$(PublishTrimmed)</_Parameter2>
+    </AssemblyAttribute>
+    <AssemblyAttribute Include="System.Reflection.AssemblyMetadataAttribute">
+      <_Parameter1>PublishAot</_Parameter1>
+      <_Parameter2>$(PublishAot)</_Parameter2>
+    </AssemblyAttribute>
+    <AssemblyAttribute Include="System.Reflection.AssemblyMetadataAttribute">
+      <_Parameter1>CIBuild</_Parameter1>
+      <_Parameter2>$(CIBuild)</_Parameter2>
+    </AssemblyAttribute>
+    <AssemblyAttribute Include="System.Reflection.AssemblyMetadataAttribute">
+      <_Parameter1>CommandPaletteBranding</_Parameter1>
+      <_Parameter2>$(CommandPaletteBranding)</_Parameter2>
+    </AssemblyAttribute>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
 </Project>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/ViewModels/DevRibbonViewModel.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
+using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Helpers;
+using Microsoft.UI;
+using Windows.System;
+using Windows.UI;
+using DispatcherQueue = Microsoft.UI.Dispatching.DispatcherQueue;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels;
+
+internal sealed partial class DevRibbonViewModel : ObservableObject
+{
+    private const int MaxLogEntries = 2;
+    private const string Release = "Release";
+    private const string Debug = "Debug";
+
+    private static readonly Color ReleaseAotColor = ColorHelper.FromArgb(255, 124, 58, 237);
+    private static readonly Color ReleaseColor = ColorHelper.FromArgb(255, 51, 65, 85);
+    private static readonly Color DebugAotColor = ColorHelper.FromArgb(255, 99, 102, 241);
+    private static readonly Color DebugColor = ColorHelper.FromArgb(255, 107, 114, 128);
+
+    private readonly DispatcherQueue _dispatcherQueue;
+
+    public DevRibbonViewModel()
+    {
+        _dispatcherQueue = DispatcherQueue.GetForCurrentThread();
+        Trace.Listeners.Add(new DevRibbonTraceListener(this));
+
+        var configLabel = BuildConfiguration == Release ? "RLS" : "DBG"; /* #no-spell-check-line */
+        var aotLabel = BuildInfo.IsNativeAot ? "⚡AOT" : "NO AOT";
+        Tag = $"{configLabel} | {aotLabel}";
+
+        TagColor = (BuildConfiguration, BuildInfo.IsNativeAot) switch
+        {
+            (Release, true) => ReleaseAotColor,
+            (Release, false) => ReleaseColor,
+            (Debug, true) => DebugAotColor,
+            (Debug, false) => DebugColor,
+            _ => Colors.Fuchsia,
+        };
+    }
+
+    public string BuildConfiguration => BuildInfo.Configuration;
+
+    public bool IsAotReleaseConfiguration => BuildConfiguration == Release && BuildInfo.IsNativeAot;
+
+    public bool IsAot => BuildInfo.IsNativeAot;
+
+    public bool IsPublishTrimmed => BuildInfo.PublishTrimmed;
+
+    public ObservableCollection<LogEntryViewModel> LatestLogs { get; } = [];
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial int WarningCount { get; private set; }
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial int ErrorCount { get; private set; }
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Tag { get; private set; }
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial Color TagColor { get; private set; }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private async Task OpenLogFileAsync()
+    {
+        var logPath = Logger.CurrentLogFile;
+        if (File.Exists(logPath))
+        {
+            await Launcher.LaunchUriAsync(new Uri(logPath));
+        }
+    }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private async Task OpenLogFolderAsync()
+    {
+        var logFolderPath = Logger.CurrentVersionLogDirectoryPath;
+        if (Directory.Exists(logFolderPath))
+        {
+            await Launcher.LaunchFolderPathAsync(logFolderPath);
+        }
+    }
+
+    [RelayCommand]
+    private void ResetErrorCounters()
+    {
+        WarningCount = 0;
+        ErrorCount = 0;
+        LatestLogs.Clear();
+    }
+
+    private sealed partial class DevRibbonTraceListener(DevRibbonViewModel viewModel) : TraceListener
+    {
+        private const string TimestampFormat = "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.fff";
+
+        [GeneratedRegex(@"^\[(?<timestamp>.*?)\] \[(?<severity>.*?)\] (?<message>.*)")]
+        private static partial Regex LogRegex();
+
+        private readonly Lock _lock = new();
+        private LogEntryViewModel? _latestLogEntry;
+
+        public override void Write(string? message)
+        {
+            // Not required for this scenario.
+        }
+
+        public override void WriteLine(string? message)
+        {
+            if (message is null)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            lock (_lock)
+            {
+                var match = LogRegex().Match(message);
+                if (match.Success)
+                {
+                    var severity = match.Groups["severity"].Value;
+                    var isWarning = severity.Equals("Warning", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+                    var isError = severity.Equals("Error", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+                    if (isWarning || isError)
+                    {
+                        var timestampStr = match.Groups["timestamp"].Value;
+                        var timestamp = DateTimeOffset.TryParseExact(
+                            timestampStr,
+                            TimestampFormat,
+                            CultureInfo.InvariantCulture,
+                            DateTimeStyles.AssumeLocal,
+                            out var parsed)
+                            ? parsed
+                            : DateTimeOffset.Now;
+
+                        var logEntry = new LogEntryViewModel(
+                            timestamp,
+                            severity,
+                            match.Groups["message"].Value,
+                            string.Empty);
+
+                        _latestLogEntry = logEntry;
+
+                        viewModel._dispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(() =>
+                        {
+                            if (isWarning)
+                            {
+                                viewModel.WarningCount++;
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                viewModel.ErrorCount++;
+                            }
+
+                            viewModel.LatestLogs.Insert(0, logEntry);
+
+                            while (viewModel.LatestLogs.Count > MaxLogEntries)
+                            {
+                                viewModel.LatestLogs.RemoveAt(viewModel.LatestLogs.Count - 1);
+                            }
+                        });
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        _latestLogEntry = null;
+                    }
+
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                if (IndentLevel > 0 && _latestLogEntry is { } latest)
+                {
+                    viewModel._dispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(() =>
+                    {
+                        latest.AppendDetails(message);
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/ViewModels/LogEntryViewModel.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System.Globalization;
+using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels;
+
+internal sealed partial class LogEntryViewModel : ObservableObject
+{
+    private const int HeaderMaxLength = 80;
+    private const string WarningGlyph = "\uE7BA";
+    private const string ErrorGlyph = "\uEA39";
+    private const string TimestampFormat = "HH:mm:ss";
+
+    private DateTimeOffset Timestamp { get; }
+
+    private string Severity { get; }
+
+    private string Message { get; }
+
+    private string FormattedTimestamp { get; }
+
+    public string SeverityGlyph { get; }
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Header { get; private set; }
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Description { get; private set; }
+
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial string Details { get; private set; }
+
+    public LogEntryViewModel(DateTimeOffset timestamp, string severity, string message, string details)
+    {
+        Timestamp = timestamp;
+        Severity = severity;
+        Message = message;
+        Details = details;
+
+        SeverityGlyph = severity.ToUpperInvariant() switch
+        {
+            "WARNING" => WarningGlyph,
+            "ERROR" => ErrorGlyph,
+            _ => string.Empty,
+        };
+
+        FormattedTimestamp = timestamp.ToString(TimestampFormat, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);
+        Description = $"{FormattedTimestamp} • {Message}";
+        Header = Message;
+    }
+
+    public void AppendDetails(string? message)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(message))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Details += Environment.NewLine + message;
+
+        // Make header the second line of details (because that's actually the message itself):
+        var detailsLines = Details.Split([Environment.NewLine], StringSplitOptions.None);
+        if (detailsLines.Length < 2)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Header = detailsLines[1].Trim();
+        if (Header.Length > HeaderMaxLength)
+        {
+            Header = Header[..(HeaderMaxLength - 1)] + "…";
+        }
+    }
+}