don't do the focus thing if there's a bunch of controls

when a content form first loads, try to focus it.

This does work for a single control on a page, but doesn't work great if
there's more than one

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

@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ debugbreak
 declatory
 decryptor
 Dedup
+Deeplink
 DEFAULTBOOTSTRAPPERINSTALLFOLDER
 DEFAULTCOLOR
 DEFAULTFLAGS
@@ -326,6 +327,7 @@ DEFAULTTONULL
 DEFAULTTOPRIMARY
 DEFERERASE
 DEFPUSHBUTTON
+DEFT
 deinitialization
 DELA
 DELETEDKEYIMAGE
@@ -346,6 +348,7 @@ devmgmt
 DEVMODE
 DEVMODEW
 devpal
+DFX
 DIALOGEX
 digicert
 dimm

.pipelines/packages.config

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <packages>
-  <package id="Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry" version="2.0.2" />
+  <package id="Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry" version="2.0.3" />
 </packages>

.pipelines/tsa.json

@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
     "notificationAliases": ["powertoys@microsoft.com"],
     "instanceUrl": "https://microsoft.visualstudio.com",
     "projectName": "OS",
-    "areaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DEEP-Developer Experience, Ecosystem and Partnerships\\SHINE\\PowerToys"
+    "areaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DFX-Developer Fundamentals and Experiences\\DEFT\\PowerToys"
 }

.pipelines/v2/release.yml

@@ -112,10 +112,12 @@ extends:
                 # Prepare the localizations and telemetry config before the release build
                 - template: .pipelines/v2/templates/steps-fetch-and-prepare-localizations.yml@self
 
-                - script: |
-                    call nuget.exe restore -configFile .pipelines/release-nuget.config -PackagesDirectory . .pipelines/packages.config || exit /b 1
-                    move /Y "Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.2.0.2\build\include\TraceLoggingDefines.h" "src\common\Telemetry\TraceLoggingDefines.h" || exit /b 1
-                    move /Y "Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.2.0.2\build\include\TelemetryBase.cs" "src\common\Telemetry\TelemetryBase.cs" || exit /b 1
+                - pwsh: |-
+                    $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+                    $PSNativeCommandUseErrorActionPreference = $true
+                    & nuget.exe restore -configFile .pipelines/release-nuget.config -PackagesDirectory . .pipelines/packages.config
+                    Move-Item -Force -Verbose "Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.*\build\include\TraceLoggingDefines.h" "src\common\Telemetry\TraceLoggingDefines.h"
+                    Move-Item -Force -Verbose "Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.*\build\include\TelemetryBase.cs" "src\common\Telemetry\TelemetryBase.cs"
                   displayName: Emplace telemetry files
 
       - stage: Build_SDK

.pipelines/v2/templates/job-build-project.yml

@@ -344,6 +344,11 @@ jobs:
       flattenFolders: True
       OverWrite: True
 
+  # Check if all projects (located in src sub-folder) import common props
+  - pwsh: |-
+      & '.pipelines/verifyCommonProps.ps1' -sourceDir '$(build.sourcesdirectory)\src'
+    displayName: Audit shared common props for CSharp projects in src sub-folder
+
   # Check if deps.json files don't reference different dll versions.
   - pwsh: |-
       & '.pipelines/verifyDepsJsonLibraryVersions.ps1' -targetDir '$(build.sourcesdirectory)\$(BuildPlatform)\$(BuildConfiguration)'

.pipelines/verifyCommonProps.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+[CmdletBinding()]
+Param(
+    [Parameter(Mandatory = $True, Position = 1)]
+    [string]$sourceDir
+)
+
+# scan all csharp project in the source directory
+function Get-CSharpProjects {
+    param (
+        [string]$path
+    )
+
+    # Get all .csproj files under the specified path
+    return Get-ChildItem -Path $path -Recurse -Filter *.csproj | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName
+}
+
+# Check if the project file imports 'Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props'
+function Test-ImportSharedCsWinRTProps {
+    param (
+        [string]$filePath
+    )
+
+    # Load the XML content of the .csproj file
+    [xml]$csprojContent = Get-Content -Path $filePath
+
+    
+    # Check if the Import element with Project attribute containing 'Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props' exists
+    return $csprojContent.Project.Import | Where-Object { $null -ne $_.Project -and $_.Project.EndsWith('Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props') }
+}
+
+# Call the function with the provided source directory
+$csprojFilesArray = Get-CSharpProjects -path $sourceDir
+
+$hasInvalidCsProj = $false
+
+# Enumerate the array of file paths and call Validate-ImportSharedCsWinRTProps for each file
+foreach ($csprojFile in $csprojFilesArray) {
+    # Skip if the file ends with 'TemplateCmdPalExtension.csproj'
+    if ($csprojFile -like '*TemplateCmdPalExtension.csproj') {
+        continue
+    }
+
+    $importExists = Test-ImportSharedCsWinRTProps -filePath $csprojFile
+    if (!$importExists) {
+        Write-Output "$csprojFile need to import 'Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props'."
+        $hasInvalidCsProj = $true
+    }
+}
+
+if ($hasInvalidCsProj) {
+    exit 1
+}
+
+exit 0

src/Common.Dotnet.FuzzTest.props

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!-- Some items may be set in Directory.Build.props in root -->
+<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
+  <!-- OneFuzz does not currently support testing with .NET 9.
+       As a temporary workaround, create a .NET 8 project and use file links 
+       to include the code that needs testing. -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+</Project>

src/modules/AdvancedPaste/AdvancedPaste.FuzzTests/AdvancedPaste.FuzzTests.csproj

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+	<!-- Look at Directory.Build.props in root for common stuff as well -->
+	<Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
+	<Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.FuzzTest.props" />
 	<PropertyGroup>
-		<TargetFramework>net8.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
 		<LangVersion>latest</LangVersion>
 		<ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
 		<Nullable>enable</Nullable>

src/modules/AdvancedPaste/AdvancedPaste.FuzzTests/OneFuzzConfig.json

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
         "org": "microsoft",
         "project": "OS",
         "AssignedTo": "leilzh@microsoft.com",
-        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DEEP-Developer Experience, Ecosystem and Partnerships\\SHINE\\PowerToys",
+        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DFX-Developer Fundamentals and Experiences\\DEFT\\SALT",
         "IterationPath": "OS\\Future"
       },
       "jobNotificationEmail": "leilzh@microsoft.com",

src/modules/Hosts/Hosts.FuzzTests/Hosts.FuzzTests.csproj

@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+	<!-- Look at Directory.Build.props in root for common stuff as well -->
+	<Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
+	<Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.FuzzTest.props" />
+
 	<PropertyGroup>
-		<TargetFramework>net8.0-windows10.0.19041.0</TargetFramework>
 		<LangVersion>latest</LangVersion>
 		<ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
 	</PropertyGroup>

src/modules/Hosts/Hosts.FuzzTests/OneFuzzConfig.json

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
         "org": "microsoft",
         "project": "OS",
         "AssignedTo": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
-        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DEEP-Developer Experience, Ecosystem and Partnerships\\SHINE\\PowerToys",
+        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DFX-Developer Fundamentals and Experiences\\DEFT\\SALT",
         "IterationPath": "OS\\Future"
       },
       "jobNotificationEmail": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
         "org": "microsoft",
         "project": "OS",
         "AssignedTo": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
-        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DEEP-Developer Experience, Ecosystem and Partnerships\\SHINE\\PowerToys",
+        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DFX-Developer Fundamentals and Experiences\\DEFT\\SALT",
         "IterationPath": "OS\\Future"
       },
       "jobNotificationEmail": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
         "org": "microsoft",
         "project": "OS",
         "AssignedTo": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
-        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DEEP-Developer Experience, Ecosystem and Partnerships\\SHINE\\PowerToys",
+        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DFX-Developer Fundamentals and Experiences\\DEFT\\SALT",
         "IterationPath": "OS\\Future"
       },
       "jobNotificationEmail": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
         "org": "microsoft",
         "project": "OS",
         "AssignedTo": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",
-        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DEEP-Developer Experience, Ecosystem and Partnerships\\SHINE\\PowerToys",
+        "AreaPath": "OS\\Windows Client and Services\\WinPD\\DFX-Developer Fundamentals and Experiences\\DEFT\\SALT",
         "IterationPath": "OS\\Future"
       },
       "jobNotificationEmail": "mengyuanchen@microsoft.com",

src/modules/cmdpal/CmdPalModuleInterface/CmdPalModuleInterface.vcxproj

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build"
   xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <Import Project="..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.240111.5\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.240111.5\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
-  <Import Project="..\Microsoft.CmdPal.UI\CmdPal.pre.props" Condition="Exists('..\Microsoft.CmdPal.UI\CmdPal.pre.prop')" />
+  <Import Project="..\Microsoft.CmdPal.UI\CmdPal.pre.props" Condition="Exists('..\Microsoft.CmdPal.UI\CmdPal.pre.props')" />
   <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
     <VCProjectVersion>17.0</VCProjectVersion>
     <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
       <PreprocessorDefinitions>
         EXAMPLEPOWERTOY_EXPORTS;_WINDOWS;_USRDLL;
         %(PreprocessorDefinitions);
-        $(CommandPaletteBranding)
       </PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <PreprocessorDefinitions Condition="'$(CommandPaletteBranding)'=='' or '$(CommandPaletteBranding)'=='Dev'">
         IS_DEV_BRANDING;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)

src/modules/cmdpal/CmdPalModuleInterface/dllmain.cpp

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <interface/powertoy_module_interface.h>
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include <common/logger/logger.h>
 #include <common/utils/logger_helper.h>
 #include <common/SettingsAPI/settings_helpers.h>
@@ -10,10 +11,11 @@
 #include <common/utils/resources.h>
 #include <common/utils/package.h>
 #include <common/utils/process_path.h>
+#include <common/utils/winapi_error.h>
 #include <common/interop/shared_constants.h>
 #include <Psapi.h>
 #include <TlHelp32.h>
-#include <common/utils/winapi_error.h>
+#include <thread>
 
 HINSTANCE g_hInst_cmdPal = 0;
 
@@ -37,8 +39,6 @@ BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hInstance,
 class CmdPal : public PowertoyModuleIface
 {
 private:
-    bool m_enabled = false;
-
     std::wstring app_name;
 
     //contains the non localized key of the powertoy
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ private:
 
     HANDLE m_hTerminateEvent;
 
-    void LaunchApp(const std::wstring& appPath, const std::wstring& commandLineArgs, bool elevated)
+    // Track if this is the first call to enable
+    bool firstEnableCall = true;
+
+    static bool LaunchApp(const std::wstring& appPath, const std::wstring& commandLineArgs, bool elevated, bool silentFail)
     {
         std::wstring dir = std::filesystem::path(appPath).parent_path();
 
@@ -54,6 +57,10 @@ private:
         sei.cbSize = sizeof(SHELLEXECUTEINFO);
         sei.hwnd = nullptr;
         sei.fMask = SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS | SEE_MASK_NO_CONSOLE;
+        if (silentFail)
+        {
+            sei.fMask = sei.fMask | SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI;
+        }
         sei.lpVerb = elevated ? L"runas" : L"open";
         sei.lpFile = appPath.c_str();
         sei.lpParameters = commandLineArgs.c_str();
@@ -64,7 +71,11 @@ private:
         {
             std::wstring error = get_last_error_or_default(GetLastError());
             Logger::error(L"Failed to launch process. {}", error);
+            return false;
         }
+
+        m_launched.store(true);
+        return true;
     }
 
     std::vector<DWORD> GetProcessesIdByName(const std::wstring& processName)
@@ -122,6 +133,9 @@ private:
     }
 
 public:
+    static std::atomic<bool> m_enabled;
+    static std::atomic<bool> m_launched;
+
     CmdPal()
     {
         app_name = L"CmdPal";
@@ -133,10 +147,7 @@ public:
 
     ~CmdPal()
     {
-        if (m_enabled)
-        {
-        }
-        m_enabled = false;
+        CmdPal::m_enabled.store(false);
     }
 
     // Destroy the powertoy and free memory
@@ -203,15 +214,17 @@ public:
     {
         Logger::trace("CmdPal::enable()");
 
-        m_enabled = true;
+        CmdPal::m_enabled.store(true);
 
-        try
-        {
-            std::wstring packageName = L"Microsoft.CommandPalette";
+        std::wstring packageName = L"Microsoft.CommandPalette";
+        std::wstring launchPath = L"x-cmdpal://background";
 #ifdef IS_DEV_BRANDING
-            packageName = L"Microsoft.CommandPalette.Dev";
+        packageName = L"Microsoft.CommandPalette.Dev";
 #endif
-            if (!package::GetRegisteredPackage(packageName, false).has_value())
+
+        if (!package::GetRegisteredPackage(packageName, false).has_value())
+        {
+            try
             {
                 Logger::info(L"CmdPal not installed. Installing...");
 
@@ -238,28 +251,34 @@ public:
                     }
                 }
             }
+            catch (std::exception& e)
+            {
+                std::string errorMessage{ "Exception thrown while trying to install CmdPal package: " };
+                errorMessage += e.what();
+                Logger::error(errorMessage);
+            }
         }
-        catch (std::exception& e)
+
+        if (!package::GetRegisteredPackage(packageName, false).has_value())
         {
-            std::string errorMessage{ "Exception thrown while trying to install CmdPal package: " };
-            errorMessage += e.what();
-            Logger::error(errorMessage);
+            Logger::error("Cmdpal is not registered, quit..");
+            return;
         }
-        try
+
+        if (!firstEnableCall)
         {
-#ifdef IS_DEV_BRANDING
-            LaunchApp(std::wstring{ L"shell:AppsFolder\\" } + L"Microsoft.CommandPalette.Dev_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App", L"RunFromPT", false);
-#else
-            LaunchApp(std::wstring{ L"shell:AppsFolder\\" } + L"Microsoft.CommandPalette_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App", L"RunFromPT", false);
-#endif
+            Logger::trace("Not first attempt, try to launch");
+            LaunchApp(launchPath, L"", false /*no elevated*/, false /*error pop up*/);
         }
-        catch (std::exception& e)
+        else
         {
-            std::string errorMessage{ "Exception thrown while trying to launch CmdPal: " };
-            errorMessage += e.what();
-            Logger::error(errorMessage);
-            throw;
+            // If first time enable, do retry launch.
+            Logger::trace("First attempt, try to launch");
+            std::thread launchThread(&CmdPal::RetryLaunch, launchPath);
+            launchThread.detach();
         }
+
+        firstEnableCall = false;
     }
 
     virtual void disable()
@@ -267,7 +286,44 @@ public:
         Logger::trace("CmdPal::disable()");
         TerminateCmdPal();
 
-        m_enabled = false;
+        CmdPal::m_enabled.store(false);
+    }
+
+    static void RetryLaunch(std::wstring path)
+    {
+        const int base_delay_milliseconds = 1000;
+        int max_retry = 9; // 2**9 - 1 seconds. Control total wait time within 10 min.
+        int retry = 0;
+        do
+        {
+            auto launch_result = LaunchApp(path, L"", false, retry < max_retry);
+            if (launch_result)
+            {
+                Logger::info(L"CmdPal launched successfully after {} retries.", retry);
+                return;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                Logger::error(L"Retry {} launch CmdPal launch failed.", retry);
+            }
+
+            // When we got max retry, we don't need to wait for the next retry.
+            if (retry < max_retry)
+            {
+                int delay = base_delay_milliseconds * (1 << (retry));
+                std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(delay));
+            }
+            ++retry;
+        } while (retry <= max_retry && m_enabled.load() && !m_launched.load());
+
+        if (!m_enabled.load() || m_launched.load())
+        {
+            Logger::error(L"Retry cancelled. CmdPal is disabled or already launched.");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            Logger::error(L"CmdPal launch failed after {} attempts.", retry);
+        }
     }
 
     virtual bool on_hotkey(size_t) override
@@ -282,11 +338,14 @@ public:
 
     virtual bool is_enabled() override
     {
-        return m_enabled;
+        return CmdPal::m_enabled.load();
     }
 };
 
+std::atomic<bool> CmdPal::m_enabled{ false };
+std::atomic<bool> CmdPal::m_launched{ false };
+
 extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) PowertoyModuleIface* __cdecl powertoy_create()
 {
     return new CmdPal();
-}
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ExtensionTemplate/TemplateCmdPalExtension/Directory.Packages.props

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     <ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>true</ManagePackageVersionsCentrally>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions" Version="0.1.0" />
+    <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions" Version="0.2.0" />
     <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.CodeAnalysis.NetAnalyzers" Version="9.0.0-preview.24508.2" />
     <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Web.WebView2" Version="1.0.2903.40" />
     <PackageVersion Include="Microsoft.Windows.CsWin32" Version="0.2.46-beta" />

src/modules/cmdpal/ExtensionTemplate/TemplateCmdPalExtension/TemplateCmdPalExtension/Program.cs

@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@ namespace TemplateCmdPalExtension;
 public class Program
 {
     [MTAThread]
-    public static async Task Main(string[] args)
+    public static void Main(string[] args)
     {
         if (args.Length > 0 && args[0] == "-RegisterProcessAsComServer")
         {
-            await using global::Shmuelie.WinRTServer.ComServer server = new();
+            global::Shmuelie.WinRTServer.ComServer server = new();
+
             ManualResetEvent extensionDisposedEvent = new(false);
             
             // We are instantiating an extension instance once above, and returning it every time the callback in RegisterExtension below is called.
@@ -31,6 +32,8 @@ public class Program
             // This will make the main thread wait until the event is signalled by the extension class.
             // Since we have single instance of the extension object, we exit as soon as it is disposed.
             extensionDisposedEvent.WaitOne();
+            server.Stop();
+            server.UnsafeDispose();
         }
         else
         {

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Contracts/IFileService.cs

@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-// 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.
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Contracts;
-
-public interface IFileService
-{
-    T Read<T>(string folderPath, string fileName);
-
-    void Save<T>(string folderPath, string fileName, T content);
-
-    void Delete(string folderPath, string fileName);
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Contracts/ILocalSettingsService.cs

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-// 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.Threading.Tasks;
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Contracts;
-
-public interface ILocalSettingsService
-{
-    Task<bool> HasSettingAsync(string key);
-
-    Task<T?> ReadSettingAsync<T>(string key);
-
-    Task SaveSettingAsync<T>(string key, T value);
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Extensions/ApplicationExtensions.cs

@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-// 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.CmdPal.Common.Services;
-using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Extensions;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// Extension class implementing extension methods for <see cref="Application"/>.
-/// </summary>
-public static class ApplicationExtensions
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Get registered services at the application level from anywhere in the
-    /// application.
-    ///
-    /// Note:
-    /// https://learn.microsoft.com/uwp/api/windows.ui.xaml.application.current?view=winrt-22621#windows-ui-xaml-application-current
-    /// "Application is a singleton that implements the static Current property
-    /// to provide shared access to the Application instance for the current
-    /// application. The singleton pattern ensures that state managed by
-    /// Application, including shared resources and properties, is available
-    /// from a single, shared location."
-    ///
-    /// Example of usage:
-    /// <code>
-    /// Application.Current.GetService<T>()
-    /// </code>
-    /// </summary>
-    /// <typeparam name="T">Service type.</typeparam>
-    /// <param name="application">Current application.</param>
-    /// <returns>Service reference.</returns>
-    public static T GetService<T>(this Application application)
-        where T : class
-    {
-        return (application as IApp)!.GetService<T>();
-    }
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Extensions/IHostExtensions.cs

@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-// 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;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Extensions;
-
-public static class IHostExtensions
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// <inheritdoc cref="ActivatorUtilities.CreateInstance(IServiceProvider, Type, object[])"/>
-    /// </summary>
-    public static T CreateInstance<T>(this IHost host, params object[] parameters)
-    {
-        return ActivatorUtilities.CreateInstance<T>(host.Services, parameters);
-    }
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Gets the service object for the specified type, or throws an exception
-    /// if type was not registered.
-    /// </summary>
-    /// <typeparam name="T">Service type</typeparam>
-    /// <param name="host">Host object</param>
-    /// <returns>Service object</returns>
-    /// <exception cref="ArgumentException">Throw an exception if the specified
-    /// type is not registered</exception>
-    public static T GetService<T>(this IHost host)
-        where T : class
-    {
-        if (host.Services.GetService(typeof(T)) is not T service)
-        {
-            throw new ArgumentException($"{typeof(T)} needs to be registered in ConfigureServices.");
-        }
-
-        return service;
-    }
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Helpers/Json.cs

@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-// 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.IO;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Text.Json;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Helpers;
-
-public static class Json
-{
-    public static async Task<T> ToObjectAsync<T>(string value)
-    {
-        if (typeof(T) == typeof(bool))
-        {
-            return (T)(object)bool.Parse(value);
-        }
-
-        await using var stream = new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(value));
-        return (await JsonSerializer.DeserializeAsync<T>(stream))!;
-    }
-
-    public static async Task<string> StringifyAsync<T>(T value)
-    {
-        if (typeof(T) == typeof(bool))
-        {
-            return value!.ToString()!.ToLowerInvariant();
-        }
-
-        await using var stream = new MemoryStream();
-        await JsonSerializer.SerializeAsync(stream, value);
-        return Encoding.UTF8.GetString(stream.ToArray());
-    }
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Helpers/NativeEventWaiter.cs

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ using Microsoft.UI.Dispatching;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Helpers;
 
-public static class NativeEventWaiter
+public static partial class NativeEventWaiter
 {
     public static void WaitForEventLoop(string eventName, Action callback)
     {

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Helpers/RuntimeHelper.cs

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ using Windows.Win32.Foundation;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Helpers;
 
-public static class RuntimeHelper
+public static partial class RuntimeHelper
 {
     public static bool IsMSIX
     {

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Messages/HideWindowMessage.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Messages;
 
-public record HideWindowMessage()
+public partial record HideWindowMessage()
 {
 }

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

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.AotCompatibility.props" />
   <PropertyGroup>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.CmdPal.Common</RootNamespace>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Models/LocalSettingsOptions.cs

@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-// 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.
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Models;
-
-public class LocalSettingsOptions
-{
-    public string? ApplicationDataFolder
-    {
-        get; set;
-    }
-
-    public string? LocalSettingsFile
-    {
-        get; set;
-    }
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/NativeMethods.txt

@@ -1,16 +1,7 @@
-EnableWindow
-CoCreateInstance
-FileOpenDialog
-FileSaveDialog
-IFileOpenDialog
-IFileSaveDialog
-SHCreateItemFromParsingName
 GetCurrentPackageFullName
 SetWindowLong
 GetWindowLong
 WINDOW_EX_STYLE
-SHLoadIndirectString
-StrFormatByteSizeEx
 SFBS_FLAGS
 MAX_PATH
 GetDpiForWindow

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Services/FileService.cs

@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-// 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.IO;
-using System.Text;
-using System.Text.Json;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Contracts;
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Services;
-
-public class FileService : IFileService
-{
-    private static readonly Encoding _encoding = new UTF8Encoding(encoderShouldEmitUTF8Identifier: false);
-
-#pragma warning disable CS8603 // Possible null reference return.
-    public T Read<T>(string folderPath, string fileName)
-    {
-        var path = Path.Combine(folderPath, fileName);
-        if (File.Exists(path))
-        {
-            using var fileStream = File.OpenText(path);
-            return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<T>(fileStream.BaseStream);
-        }
-
-        return default;
-    }
-#pragma warning restore CS8603 // Possible null reference return.
-
-    public void Save<T>(string folderPath, string fileName, T content)
-    {
-        if (!Directory.Exists(folderPath))
-        {
-            Directory.CreateDirectory(folderPath);
-        }
-
-        var fileContent = JsonSerializer.Serialize(content);
-        File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(folderPath, fileName), fileContent, _encoding);
-    }
-
-    public void Delete(string folderPath, string fileName)
-    {
-        if (fileName != null && File.Exists(Path.Combine(folderPath, fileName)))
-        {
-            File.Delete(Path.Combine(folderPath, fileName));
-        }
-    }
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Services/IApp.cs

@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-// 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.
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Services;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// Interface for the current application singleton object exposing the API
-/// that can be accessed from anywhere in the application.
-/// </summary>
-public interface IApp
-{
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Gets services registered at the application level.
-    /// </summary>
-    public T GetService<T>()
-        where T : class;
-}

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.Common/Services/LocalSettingsService.cs

@@ -1,120 +0,0 @@
-// 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;
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.IO;
-using System.Threading.Tasks;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Contracts;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Helpers;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Models;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
-using Windows.Storage;
-
-namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Common.Services;
-
-public class LocalSettingsService : ILocalSettingsService
-{
-    // TODO! for now, we're hardcoding the path as effectively:
-    // %localappdata%\CmdPal\LocalSettings.json
-    private const string DefaultApplicationDataFolder = "CmdPal";
-    private const string DefaultLocalSettingsFile = "LocalSettings.json";
-
-    private readonly IFileService _fileService;
-    private readonly LocalSettingsOptions _options;
-
-    private readonly string _localApplicationData = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData);
-    private readonly string _applicationDataFolder;
-    private readonly string _localSettingsFile;
-
-    private readonly bool _isMsix;
-
-    private Dictionary<string, object> _settings;
-    private bool _isInitialized;
-
-    public LocalSettingsService(IFileService fileService, IOptions<LocalSettingsOptions> options)
-    {
-        _isMsix = false; // RuntimeHelper.IsMSIX;
-
-        _fileService = fileService;
-        _options = options.Value;
-
-        _applicationDataFolder = Path.Combine(_localApplicationData, _options.ApplicationDataFolder ?? DefaultApplicationDataFolder);
-        _localSettingsFile = _options.LocalSettingsFile ?? DefaultLocalSettingsFile;
-
-        _settings = new Dictionary<string, object>();
-    }
-
-    private async Task InitializeAsync()
-    {
-        if (!_isInitialized)
-        {
-            _settings = await Task.Run(() => _fileService.Read<Dictionary<string, object>>(_applicationDataFolder, _localSettingsFile)) ?? new Dictionary<string, object>();
-
-            _isInitialized = true;
-        }
-    }
-
-    public async Task<bool> HasSettingAsync(string key)
-    {
-        if (_isMsix)
-        {
-            return ApplicationData.Current.LocalSettings.Values.ContainsKey(key);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            await InitializeAsync();
-
-            if (_settings != null)
-            {
-                return _settings.ContainsKey(key);
-            }
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    public async Task<T?> ReadSettingAsync<T>(string key)
-    {
-        if (_isMsix)
-        {
-            if (ApplicationData.Current.LocalSettings.Values.TryGetValue(key, out var obj))
-            {
-                return await Json.ToObjectAsync<T>((string)obj);
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            await InitializeAsync();
-
-            if (_settings != null && _settings.TryGetValue(key, out var obj))
-            {
-                var s = obj.ToString();
-
-                if (s != null)
-                {
-                    return await Json.ToObjectAsync<T>(s);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        return default;
-    }
-
-    public async Task SaveSettingAsync<T>(string key, T value)
-    {
-        if (_isMsix)
-        {
-            ApplicationData.Current.LocalSettings.Values[key] = await Json.StringifyAsync(value!);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            await InitializeAsync();
-
-            _settings[key] = await Json.StringifyAsync(value!);
-
-            await Task.Run(() => _fileService.Save(_applicationDataFolder, _localSettingsFile, _settings));
-        }
-    }
-}

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

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public partial class AppStateModel : ObservableObject
             // Read the JSON content from the file
             var jsonContent = File.ReadAllText(FilePath);
 
-            var loaded = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<AppStateModel>(jsonContent, _deserializerOptions);
+            var loaded = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<AppStateModel>(jsonContent, JsonSerializationContext.Default.AppStateModel);
 
             Debug.WriteLine(loaded != null ? "Loaded settings file" : "Failed to parse");
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public partial class AppStateModel : ObservableObject
         try
         {
             // Serialize the main dictionary to JSON and save it to the file
-            var settingsJson = JsonSerializer.Serialize(model, _serializerOptions);
+            var settingsJson = JsonSerializer.Serialize(model, JsonSerializationContext.Default.AppStateModel);
 
             // Is it valid JSON?
             if (JsonNode.Parse(settingsJson) is JsonObject newSettings)
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ public partial class AppStateModel : ObservableObject
                         savedSettings[item.Key] = item.Value != null ? item.Value.DeepClone() : null;
                     }
 
-                    var serialized = savedSettings.ToJsonString(_serializerOptions);
+                    var serialized = savedSettings.ToJsonString(JsonSerializationContext.Default.AppStateModel.Options);
                     File.WriteAllText(FilePath, serialized);
 
                     // TODO: Instead of just raising the event here, we should
@@ -122,18 +122,19 @@ public partial class AppStateModel : ObservableObject
         return Path.Combine(directory, "state.json");
     }
 
-    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _serializerOptions = new()
-    {
-        WriteIndented = true,
-        Converters = { new JsonStringEnumConverter() },
-    };
+    // [UnconditionalSuppressMessage("AOT", "IL3050:Calling members annotated with 'RequiresDynamicCodeAttribute' may break functionality when AOT compiling.", Justification = "<Pending>")]
+    // private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _serializerOptions = new()
+    // {
+    //    WriteIndented = true,
+    //    Converters = { new JsonStringEnumConverter() },
+    // };
 
-    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _deserializerOptions = new()
-    {
-        PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true,
-        IncludeFields = true,
-        AllowTrailingCommas = true,
-        PreferredObjectCreationHandling = JsonObjectCreationHandling.Populate,
-        ReadCommentHandling = JsonCommentHandling.Skip,
-    };
+    // private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _deserializerOptions = new()
+    // {
+    //    PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true,
+    //    IncludeFields = true,
+    //    AllowTrailingCommas = true,
+    //    PreferredObjectCreationHandling = JsonObjectCreationHandling.Populate,
+    //    ReadCommentHandling = JsonCommentHandling.Skip,
+    // };
 }

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

@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public partial class CommandBarViewModel : ObservableObject,
     // this comes in when the primary button is tapped
     public void InvokePrimaryCommand()
     {
-        PerformCommand(SecondaryCommand);
+        PerformCommand(PrimaryCommand);
     }
 
     // this comes in when the secondary button is tapped

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

@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ public partial class CommandItemViewModel : ExtensionObjectViewModel, ICommandBa
             contextItem.SlowInitializeProperties();
         });
 
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(model.Command.Name))
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(model.Command?.Name))
         {
             _defaultCommandContextItem = new(new CommandContextItem(model.Command!), PageContext)
             {

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

@@ -66,8 +66,10 @@ public sealed class CommandProviderWrapper
         DisplayName = provider.DisplayName;
         Icon = new(provider.Icon);
         Icon.InitializeProperties();
+
+        // Note: explicitly not InitializeProperties()ing the settings here. If
+        // we do that, then we'd regress GH #38321
         Settings = new(provider.Settings, this, _taskScheduler);
-        Settings.InitializeProperties();
 
         Logger.LogDebug($"Initialized command provider {ProviderId}");
     }
@@ -151,9 +153,11 @@ public sealed class CommandProviderWrapper
             Icon = new(model.Icon);
             Icon.InitializeProperties();
 
+            // Note: explicitly not InitializeProperties()ing the settings here. If
+            // we do that, then we'd regress GH #38321
             Settings = new(model.Settings, this, _taskScheduler);
-            Settings.InitializeProperties();
 
+            // We do need to explicitly initialize commands though
             InitializeCommands(commands, fallbacks, serviceProvider, pageContext);
 
             Logger.LogDebug($"Loaded commands from {DisplayName} ({ProviderId})");
@@ -194,21 +198,6 @@ public sealed class CommandProviderWrapper
         }
     }
 
-    /* This is a View/ExtensionHost piece
-     * public void AllowSetForeground(bool allow)
-    {
-        if (!IsExtension)
-        {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        var iextn = extensionWrapper?.GetExtensionObject();
-        unsafe
-        {
-            PInvoke.CoAllowSetForegroundWindow(iextn);
-        }
-    }*/
-
     public override bool Equals(object? obj) => obj is CommandProviderWrapper wrapper && isValid == wrapper.isValid;
 
     public override int GetHashCode() => _commandProvider.GetHashCode();

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

@@ -2,18 +2,25 @@
 // The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.Models;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels;
 
-public partial class CommandSettingsViewModel(ICommandSettings _unsafeSettings, CommandProviderWrapper provider, TaskScheduler mainThread)
+public partial class CommandSettingsViewModel(ICommandSettings? _unsafeSettings, CommandProviderWrapper provider, TaskScheduler mainThread)
 {
     private readonly ExtensionObject<ICommandSettings> _model = new(_unsafeSettings);
 
     public ContentPageViewModel? SettingsPage { get; private set; }
 
-    public void InitializeProperties()
+    public bool Initialized { get; private set; }
+
+    public bool HasSettings =>
+        _model.Unsafe != null && // We have a settings model AND
+        (!Initialized || SettingsPage != null); // we weren't initialized, OR we were, and we do have a settings page
+
+    private void UnsafeInitializeProperties()
     {
         var model = _model.Unsafe;
         if (model == null)
@@ -27,4 +34,27 @@ public partial class CommandSettingsViewModel(ICommandSettings _unsafeSettings,
             SettingsPage.InitializeProperties();
         }
     }
+
+    public void SafeInitializeProperties()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            UnsafeInitializeProperties();
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            Logger.LogError($"Failed to load settings page", ex: ex);
+        }
+
+        Initialized = true;
+    }
+
+    public void DoOnUiThread(Action action)
+    {
+        Task.Factory.StartNew(
+            action,
+            CancellationToken.None,
+            TaskCreationOptions.None,
+            mainThread);
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels/Commands/CreatedExtensionForm.cs

@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@ internal sealed partial class CreatedExtensionForm : NewExtensionFormBase
 {
     public CreatedExtensionForm(string name, string displayName, string path)
     {
+        var serializeString = (string? s) => JsonSerializer.Serialize(s, JsonSerializationContext.Default.String);
         TemplateJson = CardTemplate;
         DataJson = $$"""
 {
-    "name": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(name)}},
-    "directory": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(path)}},
-    "displayName": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(displayName)}}
+    "name": {{serializeString(name)}},
+    "directory": {{serializeString(path)}},
+    "displayName": {{serializeString(displayName)}}
 }
 """;
         _name = name;
@@ -28,13 +29,13 @@ internal sealed partial class CreatedExtensionForm : NewExtensionFormBase
 
     public override ICommandResult SubmitForm(string inputs, string data)
     {
-        JsonObject? dataInput = JsonNode.Parse(data)?.AsObject();
+        var dataInput = JsonNode.Parse(data)?.AsObject();
         if (dataInput == null)
         {
             return CommandResult.KeepOpen();
         }
 
-        string verb = dataInput["x"]?.AsValue()?.ToString() ?? string.Empty;
+        var verb = dataInput["x"]?.AsValue()?.ToString() ?? string.Empty;
         return verb switch
         {
             "sln" => OpenSolution(),
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ internal sealed partial class CreatedExtensionForm : NewExtensionFormBase
     private ICommandResult OpenSolution()
     {
         string[] parts = [_path, _name, $"{_name}.sln"];
-        string pathToSolution = Path.Combine(parts);
+        var pathToSolution = Path.Combine(parts);
         ShellHelpers.OpenInShell(pathToSolution);
         return CommandResult.Hide();
     }
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ internal sealed partial class CreatedExtensionForm : NewExtensionFormBase
     private ICommandResult OpenDirectory()
     {
         string[] parts = [_path, _name];
-        string pathToDir = Path.Combine(parts);
+        var pathToDir = Path.Combine(parts);
         ShellHelpers.OpenInShell(pathToDir);
         return CommandResult.Hide();
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels/Commands/NewExtensionForm.cs

@@ -194,9 +194,8 @@ internal sealed partial class NewExtensionForm : NewExtensionFormBase
         Directory.Delete(tempDir, true);
     }
 
-    private string FormatJsonString(string str)
-    {
+    private string FormatJsonString(string str) =>
+
         // Escape the string for JSON
-        return JsonSerializer.Serialize(str);
-    }
+        JsonSerializer.Serialize(str, JsonSerializationContext.Default.String);
 }

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

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using System.Text.Json;
 using AdaptiveCards.ObjectModel.WinUI3;
 using AdaptiveCards.Templating;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Messaging;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.Messages;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.Models;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
@@ -28,42 +29,67 @@ public partial class ContentFormViewModel(IFormContent _form, WeakReference<IPag
 
     public AdaptiveCardParseResult? Card { get; private set; }
 
+    private static string Serialize(string? s) =>
+        JsonSerializer.Serialize(s, JsonSerializationContext.Default.String);
+
+    private static bool TryBuildCard(
+        string templateJson,
+        string dataJson,
+        out AdaptiveCardParseResult? card,
+        out Exception? error)
+    {
+        card = null;
+        error = null;
+
+        try
+        {
+            var template = new AdaptiveCardTemplate(templateJson);
+            var cardJson = template.Expand(dataJson);
+            card = AdaptiveCard.FromJsonString(cardJson);
+            return true;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            Logger.LogError("Error building card from template: {Message}", ex.Message);
+            error = ex;
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
     public override void InitializeProperties()
     {
         var model = _formModel.Unsafe;
-        if (model == null)
+        if (model is null)
         {
             return;
         }
 
-        try
-        {
-            TemplateJson = model.TemplateJson;
-            StateJson = model.StateJson;
-            DataJson = model.DataJson;
+        TemplateJson = model.TemplateJson;
+        StateJson = model.StateJson;
+        DataJson = model.DataJson;
 
-            AdaptiveCardTemplate template = new(TemplateJson);
-            var cardJson = template.Expand(DataJson);
-            Card = AdaptiveCard.FromJsonString(cardJson);
+        if (TryBuildCard(TemplateJson, DataJson, out var builtCard, out var renderingError))
+        {
+            Card = builtCard;
+            UpdateProperty(nameof(Card));
+            return;
         }
-        catch (Exception e)
-        {
-            // If we fail to parse the card JSON, then display _our own card_
-            // with the exception
-            AdaptiveCardTemplate template = new(ErrorCardJson);
 
-            // todo: we could probably stick Card.Errors in there too
-            var dataJson = $$"""
-{
-    "error_message": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(e.Message)}},
-    "error_stack": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(e.StackTrace)}},
-    "inner_exception": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(e.InnerException?.Message)}},
-    "template_json": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(TemplateJson)}},
-    "data_json": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(DataJson)}}
-}
-""";
-            var cardJson = template.Expand(dataJson);
-            Card = AdaptiveCard.FromJsonString(cardJson);
+        var errorPayload = $$"""
+    {
+        "error_message": {{Serialize(renderingError!.Message)}},
+        "error_stack":   {{Serialize(renderingError.StackTrace)}},
+        "inner_exception": {{Serialize(renderingError.InnerException?.Message)}},
+        "template_json": {{Serialize(TemplateJson)}},
+        "data_json":     {{Serialize(DataJson)}}
+    }
+    """;
+
+        if (TryBuildCard(ErrorCardJson, errorPayload, out var errorCard, out var _))
+        {
+            Card = errorCard;
+            UpdateProperty(nameof(Card));
+            return;
         }
 
         UpdateProperty(nameof(Card));

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

@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ public partial class ContentPageViewModel : PageViewModel, ICommandBarContext
             throw;
         }
 
+        var oneContent = newContent.Count == 1;
+        newContent.ForEach(c => c.OnlyControlOnPage = oneContent);
+
         // Now, back to a UI thread to update the observable collection
         DoOnUiThread(
         () =>

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

@@ -7,4 +7,5 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels;
 public abstract partial class ContentViewModel(WeakReference<IPageContext> context) :
     ExtensionObjectViewModel(context)
 {
+    public bool OnlyControlOnPage { get; internal set; }
 }

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

@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ public partial class ListViewModel : PageViewModel, IDisposable
     private Task? _initializeItemsTask;
     private CancellationTokenSource? _cancellationTokenSource;
 
+    private ListItemViewModel? _lastSelectedItem;
+
     public override bool IsInitialized
     {
         get => base.IsInitialized; protected set
@@ -328,7 +330,24 @@ public partial class ListViewModel : PageViewModel, IDisposable
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]
-    private void UpdateSelectedItem(ListItemViewModel item)
+    private void UpdateSelectedItem(ListItemViewModel? item)
+    {
+        if (_lastSelectedItem != null)
+        {
+            _lastSelectedItem.PropertyChanged -= SelectedItemPropertyChanged;
+        }
+
+        if (item != null)
+        {
+            SetSelectedItem(item);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            ClearSelectedItem();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void SetSelectedItem(ListItemViewModel item)
     {
         if (!item.SafeSlowInit())
         {
@@ -355,6 +374,60 @@ public partial class ListViewModel : PageViewModel, IDisposable
 
                TextToSuggest = item.TextToSuggest;
            });
+
+        _lastSelectedItem = item;
+        _lastSelectedItem.PropertyChanged += SelectedItemPropertyChanged;
+    }
+
+    private void SelectedItemPropertyChanged(object? sender, System.ComponentModel.PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        var item = _lastSelectedItem;
+        if (item == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // already on the UI thread here
+        switch (e.PropertyName)
+        {
+            case nameof(item.Command):
+            case nameof(item.SecondaryCommand):
+            case nameof(item.AllCommands):
+            case nameof(item.Name):
+                WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<UpdateCommandBarMessage>(new(item));
+                break;
+            case nameof(item.Details):
+                if (ShowDetails && item.HasDetails)
+                {
+                    WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<ShowDetailsMessage>(new(item.Details));
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<HideDetailsMessage>();
+                }
+
+                break;
+            case nameof(item.TextToSuggest):
+                TextToSuggest = item.TextToSuggest;
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ClearSelectedItem()
+    {
+        // GH #322:
+        // For inexplicable reasons, if you try updating the command bar and
+        // the details on the same UI thread tick as updating the list, we'll
+        // explode
+        DoOnUiThread(
+           () =>
+           {
+               WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<UpdateCommandBarMessage>(new(null));
+
+               WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<HideDetailsMessage>();
+
+               TextToSuggest = string.Empty;
+           });
     }
 
     public override void InitializeProperties()

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

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.AotCompatibility.props" />
+
   <PropertyGroup>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
@@ -67,4 +69,15 @@
     </Content>
   </ItemGroup>
 
+  <!-- Just mark it as AOT compatible. Do not publish with AOT now. We need fully test before we really publish it as AOT enabled-->
+  <!--<PropertyGroup>
+    <SelfContained>true</SelfContained>
+    <WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>true</WindowsAppSDKSelfContained>
+    <PublishTrimmed>true</PublishTrimmed>
+    <PublishSingleFile>true</PublishSingleFile>
+    --><!-- <DisableRuntimeMarshalling>true</DisableRuntimeMarshalling> --><!--
+    <PublishAot>true</PublishAot>
+	<EnableMsixTooling>true</EnableMsixTooling>
+  </PropertyGroup>-->
+
 </Project>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels/Models/ExtensionService.cs

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ using Windows.Foundation.Collections;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.Models;
 
-public class ExtensionService : IExtensionService, IDisposable
+public partial class ExtensionService : IExtensionService, IDisposable
 {
     public event TypedEventHandler<IExtensionService, IEnumerable<IExtensionWrapper>>? OnExtensionAdded;
 

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels/Models/ExtensionWrapper.cs

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ using Windows.Win32;
 using Windows.Win32.System.Com;
 using WinRT;
 
+// [assembly: System.Runtime.CompilerServices.DisableRuntimeMarshalling]
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels.Models;
 
 public class ExtensionWrapper : IExtensionWrapper
@@ -113,25 +114,36 @@ public class ExtensionWrapper : IExtensionWrapper
                         // -2147467262: E_NOINTERFACE
                         // -2147024893: E_PATH_NOT_FOUND
                         var guid = typeof(IExtension).GUID;
-                        var hr = PInvoke.CoCreateInstance(Guid.Parse(ExtensionClassId), null, CLSCTX.CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER, guid, out var extensionObj);
 
-                        if (hr.Value == -2147024893)
+                        unsafe
                         {
-                            Logger.LogDebug($"Failed to find {ExtensionDisplayName}: {hr}. It may have been uninstalled or deleted.");
+                            var hr = PInvoke.CoCreateInstance(Guid.Parse(ExtensionClassId), null, CLSCTX.CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER, guid, out var extensionObj);
 
-                            // We don't really need to throw this exception.
-                            // We'll just return out nothing.
-                            return;
+                            if (hr.Value == -2147024893)
+                            {
+                                Logger.LogDebug($"Failed to find {ExtensionDisplayName}: {hr}. It may have been uninstalled or deleted.");
+
+                                // We don't really need to throw this exception.
+                                // We'll just return out nothing.
+                                return;
+                            }
+
+                            extensionPtr = Marshal.GetIUnknownForObject((nint)extensionObj);
+                            if (hr < 0)
+                            {
+                                Logger.LogDebug($"Failed to instantiate {ExtensionDisplayName}: {hr}");
+                                Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHR(hr);
+                            }
+
+                            // extensionPtr = Marshal.GetIUnknownForObject(extensionObj);
+                            extensionPtr = (nint)extensionObj;
+                            if (hr < 0)
+                            {
+                                Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHR(hr);
+                            }
+
+                            _extensionObject = MarshalInterface<IExtension>.FromAbi(extensionPtr);
                         }
-
-                        extensionPtr = Marshal.GetIUnknownForObject(extensionObj);
-                        if (hr < 0)
-                        {
-                            Logger.LogDebug($"Failed to instantiate {ExtensionDisplayName}: {hr}");
-                            Marshal.ThrowExceptionForHR(hr);
-                        }
-
-                        _extensionObject = MarshalInterface<IExtension>.FromAbi(extensionPtr);
                     }
                     finally
                     {

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels/NativeMethods.json

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://aka.ms/CsWin32.schema.json",
+  "allowMarshaling": false
+}

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

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public partial class PageViewModel : ExtensionObjectViewModel, IPageContext
 
     //// Run on background thread from ListPage.xaml.cs
     [RelayCommand]
-    private Task<bool> InitializeAsync()
+    internal Task<bool> InitializeAsync()
     {
         // TODO: We may want a SemaphoreSlim lock here.
 
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ public partial class PageViewModel : ExtensionObjectViewModel, IPageContext
             return; // throw?
         }
 
+        var updateProperty = true;
         switch (propertyName)
         {
             case nameof(Name):
@@ -198,9 +199,21 @@ public partial class PageViewModel : ExtensionObjectViewModel, IPageContext
             case nameof(Icon):
                 this.Icon = new(model.Icon);
                 break;
+            default:
+                updateProperty = false;
+                break;
         }
 
-        UpdateProperty(propertyName);
+        // GH #38829: If we always UpdateProperty here, then there's a possible
+        // race condition, where we raise the PropertyChanged(SearchText)
+        // before the subclass actually retrieves the new SearchText from the
+        // model. In that race situation, if the UI thread handles the
+        // PropertyChanged before ListViewModel fetches the SearchText, it'll
+        // think that the old search text is the _new_ value.
+        if (updateProperty)
+        {
+            UpdateProperty(propertyName);
+        }
     }
 
     public new void ShowException(Exception ex, string? extensionHint = null)

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

@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ public partial class ProviderSettingsViewModel(
     IServiceProvider _serviceProvider) : ObservableObject
 {
     private readonly SettingsModel _settings = _serviceProvider.GetService<SettingsModel>()!;
+    private readonly Lock _initializeSettingsLock = new();
+    private Task? _initializeSettingsTask;
 
     public string DisplayName => _provider.DisplayName;
 
@@ -34,6 +36,9 @@ public partial class ProviderSettingsViewModel(
 
     public IconInfoViewModel Icon => _provider.Icon;
 
+    [ObservableProperty]
+    public partial bool LoadingSettings { get; set; } = _provider.Settings?.HasSettings ?? false;
+
     public bool IsEnabled
     {
         get => _providerSettings.IsEnabled;
@@ -56,15 +61,60 @@ public partial class ProviderSettingsViewModel(
         }
     }
 
-    private void Provider_CommandsChanged(CommandProviderWrapper sender, CommandPalette.Extensions.IItemsChangedEventArgs args)
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets a value indicating whether returns true if we have a settings page
+    /// that's initialized, or we are still working on initializing that
+    /// settings page. If we don't have a settings object, or that settings
+    /// object doesn't have a settings page, then we'll return false.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool HasSettings
     {
-        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(ExtensionSubtext));
-        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(TopLevelCommands));
+        get
+        {
+            if (_provider.Settings == null)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            if (_provider.Settings.Initialized)
+            {
+                return _provider.Settings.HasSettings;
+            }
+
+            // settings still need to be loaded.
+            return LoadingSettings;
+        }
     }
 
-    public bool HasSettings => _provider.Settings != null && _provider.Settings.SettingsPage != null;
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets will return the settings page, if we have one, and have initialized it.
+    /// If we haven't initialized it, this will kick off a thread to start
+    /// initializing it.
+    /// </summary>
+    public ContentPageViewModel? SettingsPage
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            if (_provider.Settings == null)
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
 
-    public ContentPageViewModel? SettingsPage => HasSettings ? _provider?.Settings?.SettingsPage : null;
+            if (_provider.Settings.Initialized)
+            {
+                LoadingSettings = false;
+                return _provider.Settings.SettingsPage;
+            }
+
+            // Don't load the settings if we're already working on it
+            lock (_initializeSettingsLock)
+            {
+                _initializeSettingsTask ??= Task.Run(InitializeSettingsPage);
+            }
+
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
 
     [field: AllowNull]
     public List<TopLevelViewModel> TopLevelCommands
@@ -90,4 +140,30 @@ public partial class ProviderSettingsViewModel(
     }
 
     private void Save() => SettingsModel.SaveSettings(_settings);
+
+    private void InitializeSettingsPage()
+    {
+        if (_provider.Settings == null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _provider.Settings.SafeInitializeProperties();
+        _provider.Settings.DoOnUiThread(() =>
+        {
+            // Changing these properties will try to update XAML, and that has
+            // to be handled on the UI thread, so we need to raise them on the
+            // UI thread
+            LoadingSettings = false;
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(HasSettings));
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(LoadingSettings));
+            OnPropertyChanged(nameof(SettingsPage));
+        });
+    }
+
+    private void Provider_CommandsChanged(CommandProviderWrapper sender, CommandPalette.Extensions.IItemsChangedEventArgs args)
+    {
+        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(ExtensionSubtext));
+        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(TopLevelCommands));
+    }
 }

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

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels;
 public partial class RecentCommandsManager : ObservableObject
 {
     [JsonInclude]
-    private List<HistoryItem> History { get; set; } = [];
+    internal List<HistoryItem> History { get; set; } = [];
 
     public RecentCommandsManager()
     {

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

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public partial class SettingsModel : ObservableObject
 
     public bool ShowSystemTrayIcon { get; set; } = true;
 
-    public bool IgnoreShortcutWhenFullscreen { get; set; } = true;
+    public bool IgnoreShortcutWhenFullscreen { get; set; }
 
     public Dictionary<string, ProviderSettings> ProviderSettings { get; set; } = [];
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public partial class SettingsModel : ObservableObject
             // Read the JSON content from the file
             var jsonContent = File.ReadAllText(FilePath);
 
-            var loaded = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<SettingsModel>(jsonContent, _deserializerOptions);
+            var loaded = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<SettingsModel>(jsonContent, JsonSerializationContext.Default.SettingsModel);
 
             Debug.WriteLine(loaded != null ? "Loaded settings file" : "Failed to parse");
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public partial class SettingsModel : ObservableObject
         try
         {
             // Serialize the main dictionary to JSON and save it to the file
-            var settingsJson = JsonSerializer.Serialize(model, _serializerOptions);
+            var settingsJson = JsonSerializer.Serialize(model, JsonSerializationContext.Default.SettingsModel);
 
             // Is it valid JSON?
             if (JsonNode.Parse(settingsJson) is JsonObject newSettings)
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ public partial class SettingsModel : ObservableObject
                         savedSettings[item.Key] = item.Value != null ? item.Value.DeepClone() : null;
                     }
 
-                    var serialized = savedSettings.ToJsonString(_serializerOptions);
+                    var serialized = savedSettings.ToJsonString(JsonSerializationContext.Default.Options);
                     File.WriteAllText(FilePath, serialized);
 
                     // TODO: Instead of just raising the event here, we should
@@ -166,19 +166,34 @@ public partial class SettingsModel : ObservableObject
         return Path.Combine(directory, "settings.json");
     }
 
-    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _serializerOptions = new()
-    {
-        WriteIndented = true,
-        Converters = { new JsonStringEnumConverter() },
-    };
+    // [UnconditionalSuppressMessage("AOT", "IL3050:Calling members annotated with 'RequiresDynamicCodeAttribute' may break functionality when AOT compiling.", Justification = "<Pending>")]
+    // private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _serializerOptions = new()
+    // {
+    //    WriteIndented = true,
+    //    Converters = { new JsonStringEnumConverter() },
+    // };
+    // private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _deserializerOptions = new()
+    // {
+    //    PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true,
+    //    IncludeFields = true,
+    //    Converters = { new JsonStringEnumConverter() },
+    //    AllowTrailingCommas = true,
+    // };
+}
 
-    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions _deserializerOptions = new()
-    {
-        PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true,
-        IncludeFields = true,
-        Converters = { new JsonStringEnumConverter() },
-        AllowTrailingCommas = true,
-    };
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(float))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(int))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(string))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(bool))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(HistoryItem))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(SettingsModel))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(AppStateModel))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(List<HistoryItem>), TypeInfoPropertyName = "HistoryList")]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(Dictionary<string, object>), TypeInfoPropertyName = "Dictionary")]
+[JsonSourceGenerationOptions(UseStringEnumConverter = true, WriteIndented = true, IncludeFields = true, PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true, AllowTrailingCommas = true)]
+[System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis.SuppressMessage("StyleCop.CSharp.MaintainabilityRules", "SA1402:File may only contain a single type", Justification = "Just used here")]
+internal sealed partial class JsonSerializationContext : JsonSerializerContext
+{
 }
 
 public enum MonitorBehavior

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

@@ -109,9 +109,12 @@ public partial class ShellViewModel(IServiceProvider _serviceProvider, TaskSched
                     // TODO GH #239 switch back when using the new MD text block
                     // _ = _queue.EnqueueAsync(() =>
                     _ = Task.Factory.StartNew(
-                        () =>
+                        async () =>
                         {
-                            var result = (bool)viewModel.InitializeCommand.ExecutionTask.GetResultOrDefault()!;
+                            // bool f = await viewModel.InitializeCommand.ExecutionTask.;
+                            // var result = viewModel.InitializeCommand.ExecutionTask.GetResultOrDefault()!;
+                            // var result = viewModel.InitializeCommand.ExecutionTask.GetResultOrDefault<bool?>()!;
+                            var result = await viewModel.InitializeAsync();
 
                             CurrentPage = viewModel; // result ? viewModel : null;
                             ////LoadedState = result ? ViewModelLoadedState.Loaded : ViewModelLoadedState.Error;

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

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 using System.Collections.Immutable;
 using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
+using System.Diagnostics;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Messaging;
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ public partial class TopLevelCommandManager : ObservableObject,
 
     public async Task<bool> LoadBuiltinsAsync()
     {
+        var s = new Stopwatch();
+        s.Start();
+
         _builtInCommands.Clear();
 
         // Load built-In commands first. These are all in-proc, and
@@ -53,53 +57,48 @@ public partial class TopLevelCommandManager : ObservableObject,
         {
             CommandProviderWrapper wrapper = new(provider, _taskScheduler);
             _builtInCommands.Add(wrapper);
-            await LoadTopLevelCommandsFromProvider(wrapper);
+            var commands = await LoadTopLevelCommandsFromProvider(wrapper);
+            lock (TopLevelCommands)
+            {
+                foreach (var c in commands)
+                {
+                    TopLevelCommands.Add(c);
+                }
+            }
         }
 
+        s.Stop();
+
+        Logger.LogDebug($"Loading built-ins took {s.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
+
         return true;
     }
 
     // May be called from a background thread
-    private async Task LoadTopLevelCommandsFromProvider(CommandProviderWrapper commandProvider)
+    private async Task<IEnumerable<TopLevelViewModel>> LoadTopLevelCommandsFromProvider(CommandProviderWrapper commandProvider)
     {
         WeakReference<IPageContext> weakSelf = new(this);
 
         await commandProvider.LoadTopLevelCommands(_serviceProvider, weakSelf);
 
         var settings = _serviceProvider.GetService<SettingsModel>()!;
-        var makeAndAdd = (ICommandItem? i, bool fallback) =>
+
+        List<TopLevelViewModel> commands = [];
+
+        foreach (var item in commandProvider.TopLevelItems)
         {
-            var commandItemViewModel = new CommandItemViewModel(new(i), weakSelf);
-            var topLevelViewModel = new TopLevelViewModel(commandItemViewModel, fallback, commandProvider.ExtensionHost, commandProvider.ProviderId, settings, _serviceProvider);
+            commands.Add(item);
+        }
 
-            lock (TopLevelCommands)
-            {
-                TopLevelCommands.Add(topLevelViewModel);
-            }
-        };
-
-        await Task.Factory.StartNew(
-            () =>
-            {
-                lock (TopLevelCommands)
-                {
-                    foreach (var item in commandProvider.TopLevelItems)
-                    {
-                        TopLevelCommands.Add(item);
-                    }
-
-                    foreach (var item in commandProvider.FallbackItems)
-                    {
-                        TopLevelCommands.Add(item);
-                    }
-                }
-            },
-            CancellationToken.None,
-            TaskCreationOptions.None,
-            _taskScheduler);
+        foreach (var item in commandProvider.FallbackItems)
+        {
+            commands.Add(item);
+        }
 
         commandProvider.CommandsChanged -= CommandProvider_CommandsChanged;
         commandProvider.CommandsChanged += CommandProvider_CommandsChanged;
+
+        return commands;
     }
 
     // By all accounts, we're already on a background thread (the COM call
@@ -239,25 +238,71 @@ public partial class TopLevelCommandManager : ObservableObject,
 
     private async Task StartExtensionsAndGetCommands(IEnumerable<IExtensionWrapper> extensions)
     {
-        // TODO This most definitely needs a lock
-        foreach (var extension in extensions)
-        {
-            Logger.LogDebug($"Starting {extension.PackageFullName}");
-            try
-            {
-                // start it ...
-                await extension.StartExtensionAsync();
+        var timer = new Stopwatch();
+        timer.Start();
 
-                // ... and fetch the command provider from it.
-                CommandProviderWrapper wrapper = new(extension, _taskScheduler);
-                _extensionCommandProviders.Add(wrapper);
-                await LoadTopLevelCommandsFromProvider(wrapper);
-            }
-            catch (Exception ex)
+        // Start all extensions in parallel
+        var startTasks = extensions.Select(StartExtensionWithTimeoutAsync);
+
+        // Wait for all extensions to start
+        var wrappers = (await Task.WhenAll(startTasks)).Where(wrapper => wrapper != null).Select(w => w!).ToList();
+
+        foreach (var wrapper in wrappers)
+        {
+            _extensionCommandProviders.Add(wrapper!);
+        }
+
+        // Load the commands from the providers in parallel
+        var loadTasks = wrappers.Select(LoadCommandsWithTimeoutAsync);
+
+        var commandSets = (await Task.WhenAll(loadTasks)).Where(results => results != null).Select(r => r!).ToList();
+
+        lock (TopLevelCommands)
+        {
+            foreach (var commands in commandSets)
             {
-                Logger.LogError(ex.ToString());
+                foreach (var c in commands)
+                {
+                    TopLevelCommands.Add(c);
+                }
             }
         }
+
+        timer.Stop();
+        Logger.LogDebug($"Loading extensions took {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms");
+    }
+
+    private async Task<CommandProviderWrapper?> StartExtensionWithTimeoutAsync(IExtensionWrapper extension)
+    {
+        Logger.LogDebug($"Starting {extension.PackageFullName}");
+        try
+        {
+            await extension.StartExtensionAsync().WaitAsync(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
+            return new CommandProviderWrapper(extension, _taskScheduler);
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            Logger.LogError($"Failed to start extension {extension.PackageFullName}: {ex}");
+            return null; // Return null for failed extensions
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task<IEnumerable<TopLevelViewModel>?> LoadCommandsWithTimeoutAsync(CommandProviderWrapper wrapper)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            return await LoadTopLevelCommandsFromProvider(wrapper!).WaitAsync(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
+        }
+        catch (TimeoutException)
+        {
+            Logger.LogError($"Loading commands from {wrapper!.ExtensionHost?.Extension?.PackageFullName} timed out");
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            Logger.LogError($"Failed to load commands for extension {wrapper!.ExtensionHost?.Extension?.PackageFullName}: {ex}");
+        }
+
+        return null;
     }
 
     private void ExtensionService_OnExtensionRemoved(IExtensionService sender, IEnumerable<IExtensionWrapper> extensions)

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

@@ -73,26 +73,12 @@ public partial class App : Application
     /// Invoked when the application is launched.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="args">Details about the launch request and process.</param>
-    protected override void OnLaunched(LaunchActivatedEventArgs args)
+    protected override void OnLaunched(Microsoft.UI.Xaml.LaunchActivatedEventArgs args)
     {
         AppWindow = new MainWindow();
 
-        var cmdArgs = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs();
-
-        var runFromPT = false;
-        foreach (var arg in cmdArgs)
-        {
-            if (arg == "RunFromPT")
-            {
-                runFromPT = true;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (!runFromPT)
-        {
-            AppWindow.Activate();
-        }
+        var activatedEventArgs = Microsoft.Windows.AppLifecycle.AppInstance.GetCurrent().GetActivatedEventArgs();
+        ((MainWindow)AppWindow).HandleLaunch(activatedEventArgs);
     }
 
     /// <summary>

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

@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 using AdaptiveCards.ObjectModel.WinUI3;
 using AdaptiveCards.Rendering.WinUI3;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Controls;
 
@@ -96,11 +98,65 @@ public sealed partial class ContentFormControl : UserControl
         if (_renderedCard.FrameworkElement != null)
         {
             ContentGrid.Children.Add(_renderedCard.FrameworkElement);
+
+            // Use the Loaded event to ensure we focus after the card is in the visual tree
+            _renderedCard.FrameworkElement.Loaded += OnFrameworkElementLoaded;
         }
 
         _renderedCard.Action += Rendered_Action;
     }
 
+    private void OnFrameworkElementLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        // Unhook the event handler to avoid multiple registrations
+        if (sender is FrameworkElement element)
+        {
+            element.Loaded -= OnFrameworkElementLoaded;
+
+            if (!ViewModel?.OnlyControlOnPage ?? true)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // Focus on the first focusable element asynchronously to ensure the visual tree is fully built
+            element.DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(Microsoft.UI.Dispatching.DispatcherQueuePriority.Normal, () =>
+            {
+                var focusableElement = FindFirstFocusableElement(element);
+                focusableElement?.Focus(FocusState.Programmatic);
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Control? FindFirstFocusableElement(DependencyObject parent)
+    {
+        var childCount = VisualTreeHelper.GetChildrenCount(parent);
+
+        // Process children first (depth-first search)
+        for (var i = 0; i < childCount; i++)
+        {
+            var child = VisualTreeHelper.GetChild(parent, i);
+
+            // If the child is a focusable control like TextBox, ComboBox, etc.
+            if (child is Control control &&
+                control.IsEnabled &&
+                control.IsTabStop &&
+                control.Visibility == Visibility.Visible &&
+                control.AllowFocusOnInteraction)
+            {
+                return control;
+            }
+
+            // Recursively check children
+            var result = FindFirstFocusableElement(child);
+            if (result != null)
+            {
+                return result;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
     private void Rendered_Action(RenderedAdaptiveCard sender, AdaptiveActionEventArgs args) =>
         ViewModel?.HandleSubmit(args.Action, args.Inputs.AsJson());
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Events/BeginInvoke.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System.Diagnostics.Tracing;
-using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.Events;
 
@@ -13,4 +12,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Events;
 public class BeginInvoke : EventBase, IEvent
 {
     public PartA_PrivTags PartA_PrivTags => PartA_PrivTags.ProductAndServiceUsage;
+
+    public BeginInvoke()
+    {
+        EventName = "CmdPal_BeginInvoke";
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Events/ColdLaunch.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System.Diagnostics.Tracing;
-using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.Events;
 
@@ -13,4 +12,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Events;
 public class ColdLaunch : EventBase, IEvent
 {
     public PartA_PrivTags PartA_PrivTags => PartA_PrivTags.ProductAndServiceUsage;
+
+    public ColdLaunch()
+    {
+        EventName = "CmdPal_ColdLaunch";
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Events/OpenPage.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System.Diagnostics.Tracing;
-using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.Events;
 
@@ -17,6 +16,8 @@ public class OpenPage : EventBase, IEvent
     public OpenPage(int pageDepth)
     {
         PageDepth = pageDepth;
+
+        EventName = "CmdPal_OpenPage";
     }
 
     public PartA_PrivTags PartA_PrivTags => PartA_PrivTags.ProductAndServiceUsage;

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Events/ReactivateInstance.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System.Diagnostics.Tracing;
-using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry.Events;
 
@@ -13,4 +12,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Events;
 public class ReactivateInstance : EventBase, IEvent
 {
     public PartA_PrivTags PartA_PrivTags => PartA_PrivTags.ProductAndServiceUsage;
+
+    public ReactivateInstance()
+    {
+        EventName = "CmdPal_ReactivateInstance";
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/ExtViews/ListPage.xaml.cs

@@ -124,14 +124,12 @@ public sealed partial class ListPage : Page,
     [System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis.SuppressMessage("CodeQuality", "IDE0051:Remove unused private members", Justification = "VS is too aggressive at pruning methods bound in XAML")]
     private void ItemsList_SelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEventArgs e)
     {
-        if (ItemsList.SelectedItem is ListItemViewModel item)
+        var vm = ViewModel;
+        var li = ItemsList.SelectedItem as ListItemViewModel;
+        _ = Task.Run(() =>
         {
-            var vm = ViewModel;
-            _ = Task.Run(() =>
-            {
-                vm?.UpdateSelectedItemCommand.Execute(item);
-            });
-        }
+            vm?.UpdateSelectedItemCommand.Execute(li);
+        });
 
         // There's mysterious behavior here, where the selection seemingly
         // changes to _nothing_ when we're backspacing to a single character.

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

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<Window
+<winuiex:WindowEx
     x:Class="Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.MainWindow"
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@
     xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
     xmlns:pages="using:Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Pages"
     xmlns:viewmodels="using:Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ViewModels"
+    xmlns:winuiex="using:WinUIEx"
+    Width="800"
+    Height="480"
+    MinWidth="320"
+    MinHeight="240"
     Activated="MainWindow_Activated"
     Closed="MainWindow_Closed"
     mc:Ignorable="d">
     <pages:ShellPage x:Name="RootShellPage" />
-</Window>
+</winuiex:WindowEx>

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

@@ -19,21 +19,25 @@ using Microsoft.UI.Composition.SystemBackdrops;
 using Microsoft.UI.Input;
 using Microsoft.UI.Windowing;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
+using Microsoft.Windows.AppLifecycle;
+using Windows.ApplicationModel.Activation;
 using Windows.Foundation;
 using Windows.Graphics;
 using Windows.UI;
 using Windows.UI.WindowManagement;
 using Windows.Win32;
 using Windows.Win32.Foundation;
+using Windows.Win32.Graphics.Dwm;
 using Windows.Win32.UI.Input.KeyboardAndMouse;
 using Windows.Win32.UI.Shell;
 using Windows.Win32.UI.WindowsAndMessaging;
 using WinRT;
+using WinUIEx;
 using RS_ = Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Helpers.ResourceLoaderInstance;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI;
 
-public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
+public sealed partial class MainWindow : WindowEx,
     IRecipient<DismissMessage>,
     IRecipient<ShowWindowMessage>,
     IRecipient<HideWindowMessage>,
@@ -82,7 +86,6 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
 
         this.SetIcon();
         AppWindow.Title = RS_.GetString("AppName");
-        AppWindow.Resize(new SizeInt32 { Width = 1000, Height = 620 });
         PositionCentered();
         SetAcrylic();
 
@@ -232,6 +235,16 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         PositionCentered(display);
 
         PInvoke.ShowWindow(hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_SHOW);
+
+        // instead of showing the window, uncloak it from DWM
+        // This will make it visible to the user, without the animation or frames for
+        // loading XAML with composition
+        unsafe
+        {
+            BOOL value = false;
+            PInvoke.DwmSetWindowAttribute(_hwnd, DWMWINDOWATTRIBUTE.DWMWA_CLOAK, &value, (uint)sizeof(BOOL));
+        }
+
         PInvoke.SetForegroundWindow(hwnd);
         PInvoke.SetActiveWindow(hwnd);
     }
@@ -289,7 +302,7 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         ShowHwnd(message.Hwnd, settings.SummonOn);
     }
 
-    public void Receive(HideWindowMessage message) => PInvoke.ShowWindow(_hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_HIDE);
+    public void Receive(HideWindowMessage message) => HideWindow();
 
     public void Receive(QuitMessage message) =>
 
@@ -297,7 +310,21 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(() => Close());
 
     public void Receive(DismissMessage message) =>
-        PInvoke.ShowWindow(_hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_HIDE);
+        HideWindow();
+
+    private void HideWindow()
+    {
+        // Hide our window
+
+        // Instead of hiding the window, cloak it from DWM
+        // This will make it invisible to the user, such that we can show it again
+        // by uncloaking it, which avoids an unnecessary "flicker in" that XAML does
+        unsafe
+        {
+            BOOL value = true;
+            PInvoke.DwmSetWindowAttribute(_hwnd, DWMWINDOWATTRIBUTE.DWMWA_CLOAK, &value, (uint)sizeof(BOOL));
+        }
+    }
 
     internal void MainWindow_Closed(object sender, WindowEventArgs args)
     {
@@ -386,7 +413,9 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
                 return;
             }
 
-            PInvoke.ShowWindow(_hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_HIDE);
+            // This will DWM cloak our window:
+            HideWindow();
+
             PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new CmdPalDismissedOnLostFocus());
         }
 
@@ -396,6 +425,40 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         }
     }
 
+    public void HandleLaunch(AppActivationArguments? activatedEventArgs)
+    {
+        if (activatedEventArgs == null)
+        {
+            Summon(string.Empty);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (activatedEventArgs.Kind == Microsoft.Windows.AppLifecycle.ExtendedActivationKind.Protocol)
+        {
+            if (activatedEventArgs.Data is IProtocolActivatedEventArgs protocolArgs)
+            {
+                if (protocolArgs.Uri.ToString() is string uri)
+                {
+                    // was the URI "x-cmdpal://background" ?
+                    if (uri.StartsWith("x-cmdpal://background", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    {
+                        // we're running, we don't want to activate our window. bail
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    else if (uri.StartsWith("x-cmdpal://settings", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                    {
+                        WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<OpenSettingsMessage>(new());
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        Activate();
+    }
+
     public void Summon(string commandId) =>
 
         // The actual showing and hiding of the window will be done by the
@@ -404,11 +467,6 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         // know till the message is being handled.
         WeakReferenceMessenger.Default.Send<HotkeySummonMessage>(new(commandId, _hwnd));
 
-#pragma warning disable SA1310 // Field names should not contain underscore
-    private const uint DOT_KEY = 0xBE;
-    private const uint WM_HOTKEY = 0x0312;
-#pragma warning restore SA1310 // Field names should not contain underscore
-
     private void UnregisterHotkeys()
     {
         _keyboardListener.ClearHotkeys();
@@ -479,10 +537,24 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         var isRootHotkey = string.IsNullOrEmpty(commandId);
         PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new CmdPalHotkeySummoned(isRootHotkey));
 
+        var isVisible = this.Visible;
+        unsafe
+        {
+            // We need to check if our window is cloaked or not. A cloaked window is still
+            // technically visible, because SHOW/HIDE != iconic (minimized) != cloaked
+            // (these are all separate states)
+            long attr = 0;
+            PInvoke.DwmGetWindowAttribute(_hwnd, DWMWINDOWATTRIBUTE.DWMWA_CLOAKED, &attr, sizeof(long));
+            if (attr == 1 /* DWM_CLOAKED_APP */)
+            {
+                isVisible = false;
+            }
+        }
+
         // Note to future us: the wParam will have the index of the hotkey we registered.
         // We can use that in the future to differentiate the hotkeys we've pressed
         // so that we can bind hotkeys to individual commands
-        if (!this.Visible || !isRootHotkey)
+        if (!isVisible || !isRootHotkey)
         {
             Activate();
 
@@ -490,7 +562,16 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
         }
         else if (isRootHotkey)
         {
-            PInvoke.ShowWindow(_hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_HIDE);
+            // If there's a debugger attached...
+            if (System.Diagnostics.Debugger.IsAttached)
+            {
+                // ... then manually hide our window. When debugged, we won't get the cool cloaking,
+                // but that's the price to pay for having the HWND not light-dismiss while we're debugging.
+                PInvoke.ShowWindow(_hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_HIDE);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            HideWindow();
         }
     }
 
@@ -502,7 +583,10 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
     {
         switch (uMsg)
         {
-            case WM_HOTKEY:
+            // Prevent the window from maximizing when double-clicking the title bar area
+            case PInvoke.WM_NCLBUTTONDBLCLK:
+                return (LRESULT)IntPtr.Zero;
+            case PInvoke.WM_HOTKEY:
                 {
                     var hotkeyIndex = (int)wParam.Value;
                     if (hotkeyIndex < _hotkeys.Count)
@@ -518,22 +602,6 @@ public sealed partial class MainWindow : Window,
 
                         var hotkey = _hotkeys[hotkeyIndex];
                         HandleSummon(hotkey.CommandId);
-
-                        // var isRootHotkey = string.IsNullOrEmpty(hotkey.CommandId);
-
-                        // // Note to future us: the wParam will have the index of the hotkey we registered.
-                        // // We can use that in the future to differentiate the hotkeys we've pressed
-                        // // so that we can bind hotkeys to individual commands
-                        // if (!this.Visible || !isRootHotkey)
-                        // {
-                        //     Activate();
-
-                        // Summon(hotkey.CommandId);
-                        // }
-                        // else if (isRootHotkey)
-                        // {
-                        //     PInvoke.ShowWindow(hwnd, SHOW_WINDOW_CMD.SW_HIDE);
-                        // }
                     }
 
                     return (LRESULT)IntPtr.Zero;

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

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.SDK.BuildTools" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Xaml.Behaviors.WinUI.Managed" />
-
+	<PackageReference Include="WinUIEx" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Windows.CsWin32">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
       <IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers</IncludeAssets>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/NativeMethods.txt

@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ SHCreateStreamOnFileEx
 CoAllowSetForegroundWindow
 SHCreateStreamOnFileEx
 SHLoadIndirectString
+WM_HOTKEY
+WM_NCLBUTTONDBLCLK
 
 Shell_NotifyIcon
 LoadIcon
@@ -36,3 +38,8 @@ ExtractIconEx
 WM_RBUTTONUP
 WM_LBUTTONUP
 WM_LBUTTONDBLCLK
+
+MessageBox
+DwmGetWindowAttribute
+DwmSetWindowAttribute
+DWM_CLOAKED_APP

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Package-Dev.appxmanifest

@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@
             DisplayName="ms-resource:StartupTaskNameDev" />
         </uap5:Extension>
 
+        <uap:Extension Category="windows.protocol">
+          <uap:Protocol Name="x-cmdpal">
+            <uap:Logo>Assets\StoreLogo.png</uap:Logo>
+            <uap:DisplayName>Command Palette Dev URI scheme</uap:DisplayName>
+          </uap:Protocol>
+        </uap:Extension>
+
       </Extensions>
 
     </Application>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Package.appxmanifest

@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@
             DisplayName="ms-resource:StartupTaskName" />
         </uap5:Extension>
 
+
+        <uap:Extension Category="windows.protocol">
+          <uap:Protocol Name="x-cmdpal">
+            <uap:Logo>Assets\StoreLogo.png</uap:Logo>
+            <uap:DisplayName>Command Palette URI scheme</uap:DisplayName>
+          </uap:Protocol>
+        </uap:Extension>
+
       </Extensions>
 
     </Application>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Pages/ShellPage.xaml.cs

@@ -418,18 +418,20 @@ public sealed partial class ShellPage : Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Page,
     {
         _ = DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(() =>
         {
-            // Also hide our details pane about here, if we had one
-            HideDetails();
-
-            if (_settingsWindow == null)
-            {
-                _settingsWindow = new SettingsWindow();
-            }
-
-            _settingsWindow.Activate();
+            OpenSettings();
         });
     }
 
+    public void OpenSettings()
+    {
+        if (_settingsWindow == null)
+        {
+            _settingsWindow = new SettingsWindow();
+        }
+
+        _settingsWindow.Activate();
+    }
+
     public void Receive(ShowDetailsMessage message)
     {
         // TERRIBLE HACK TODO GH #245

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Program.cs

@@ -2,10 +2,14 @@
 // 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.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Events;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
 using Microsoft.Windows.AppLifecycle;
+using Windows.Win32;
+using Windows.Win32.Foundation;
+using Windows.Win32.UI.WindowsAndMessaging;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI;
 
@@ -30,7 +34,33 @@ internal sealed class Program
             return 0;
         }
 
-        Logger.InitializeLogger("\\CmdPal\\Logs\\");
+        try
+        {
+            Logger.InitializeLogger("\\CmdPal\\Logs\\");
+        }
+        catch (COMException e)
+        {
+            // This is unexpected. For the sake of debugging:
+            // pop a message box
+            PInvoke.MessageBox(
+                (HWND)IntPtr.Zero,
+                $"Failed to initialize the logger. COMException: \r{e.Message}",
+                "Command Palette",
+                MESSAGEBOX_STYLE.MB_OK | MESSAGEBOX_STYLE.MB_ICONERROR);
+            return 0;
+        }
+        catch (Exception e2)
+        {
+            // This is unexpected. For the sake of debugging:
+            // pop a message box
+            PInvoke.MessageBox(
+                (HWND)IntPtr.Zero,
+                $"Failed to initialize the logger. Unknown Exception: \r{e2.Message}",
+                "Command Palette",
+                MESSAGEBOX_STYLE.MB_OK | MESSAGEBOX_STYLE.MB_ICONERROR);
+            return 0;
+        }
+
         Logger.LogDebug($"Starting at {DateTime.UtcNow}");
         PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new CmdPalProcessStarted());
 
@@ -79,7 +109,9 @@ internal sealed class Program
             if (thisApp.AppWindow is not null and
                 MainWindow mainWindow)
             {
-                mainWindow.Summon(string.Empty);
+                mainWindow.HandleLaunch(args);
+
+                // mainWindow.Summon(string.Empty);
             }
         }
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Properties/launchSettings.json

@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
   "profiles": {
     "Microsoft.CmdPal.UI (Package)": {
       "commandName": "MsixPackage",
-      "nativeDebugging": false
+      "nativeDebugging": false,
+      "doNotLaunchApp": false
     },
     "Microsoft.CmdPal.UI (Unpackaged)": {
       "commandName": "Project"

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Settings/ExtensionPage.xaml

@@ -113,7 +113,24 @@
                                     Visibility="{x:Bind ViewModel.HasSettings}" />
 
                                 <Frame x:Name="SettingsFrame" Visibility="{x:Bind ViewModel.HasSettings}">
-                                    <cmdpalUI:ContentPage ViewModel="{x:Bind ViewModel.SettingsPage, Mode=OneWay}" />
+
+                                    <controls:SwitchPresenter
+                                        HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
+                                        TargetType="x:Boolean"
+                                        Value="{x:Bind ViewModel.LoadingSettings, Mode=OneWay}">
+                                        <controls:Case Value="True">
+                                            <ProgressRing
+                                                Width="36"
+                                                Height="36"
+                                                HorizontalAlignment="Center"
+                                                VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                                IsIndeterminate="True" />
+                                        </controls:Case>
+                                        <controls:Case Value="False">
+                                            <cmdpalUI:ContentPage ViewModel="{x:Bind ViewModel.SettingsPage, Mode=OneWay}" />
+                                        </controls:Case>
+                                    </controls:SwitchPresenter>
+
                                 </Frame>
 
                                 <TextBlock

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Settings/SettingsWindow.xaml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
-<Window
+<winuiex:WindowEx
     x:Class="Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Settings.SettingsWindow"
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
@@ -7,13 +7,18 @@
     xmlns:local="using:Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Settings"
     xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
     xmlns:ui="using:CommunityToolkit.WinUI"
+    xmlns:winuiex="using:WinUIEx"
     Title="SettingsWindow"
+    Width="1280"
+    Height="720"
+    MinWidth="480"
+    MinHeight="480"
     Activated="Window_Activated"
     Closed="Window_Closed"
     mc:Ignorable="d">
-    <Window.SystemBackdrop>
+    <winuiex:WindowEx.SystemBackdrop>
         <MicaBackdrop />
-    </Window.SystemBackdrop>
+    </winuiex:WindowEx.SystemBackdrop>
     <Grid>
         <Grid.RowDefinitions>
             <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
@@ -37,10 +42,10 @@
                 Height="16"
                 Source="ms-appx:///Assets/icon.svg" />
             <TextBlock
+                x:Uid="CmdPalSettingsHeader"
                 Margin="12,0,0,0"
                 VerticalAlignment="Center"
-                Style="{StaticResource CaptionTextBlockStyle}"
-                Text="Command Palette Settings" />
+                Style="{StaticResource CaptionTextBlockStyle}" />
         </StackPanel>
         <NavigationView
             x:Name="NavView"
@@ -100,4 +105,4 @@
             </Grid>
         </NavigationView>
     </Grid>
-</Window>
+</winuiex:WindowEx>

src/modules/cmdpal/Microsoft.CmdPal.UI/Settings/SettingsWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@ using Microsoft.UI.Windowing;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;
 using Windows.Graphics;
+using WinUIEx;
 using RS_ = Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Helpers.ResourceLoaderInstance;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Settings;
 
-public sealed partial class SettingsWindow : Window,
+public sealed partial class SettingsWindow : WindowEx,
     IRecipient<NavigateToExtensionSettingsMessage>,
     IRecipient<QuitMessage>
 {
@@ -70,7 +71,6 @@ public sealed partial class SettingsWindow : Window,
 
     private void PositionCentered()
     {
-        AppWindow.Resize(new SizeInt32 { Width = 1280, Height = 720 });
         var displayArea = DisplayArea.GetFromWindowId(AppWindow.Id, DisplayAreaFallback.Nearest);
         if (displayArea is not null)
         {

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

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
-<Window
+<winuiex:WindowEx
     x:Class="Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.ToastWindow"
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
@@ -7,17 +7,18 @@
     xmlns:local="using:Microsoft.CmdPal.UI"
     xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
     xmlns:ui="using:CommunityToolkit.WinUI"
+    xmlns:winuiex="using:WinUIEx"
     Title="Command Palette Toast"
     mc:Ignorable="d">
-    <Window.SystemBackdrop>
+    <winuiex:WindowEx.SystemBackdrop>
         <DesktopAcrylicBackdrop />
-    </Window.SystemBackdrop>
+    </winuiex:WindowEx.SystemBackdrop>
     <Grid x:Name="ToastGrid">
         <!--  This padding is used to calculate the dimensions of the ToastWindow  -->
         <TextBlock
             x:Name="ToastText"
-            Padding="16,16,36,24"
+            Padding="12,12,24,20"
             Text="{x:Bind ViewModel.ToastMessage, Mode=OneWay}"
             TextAlignment="Center" />
     </Grid>
-</Window>
+</winuiex:WindowEx>

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

@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ using Windows.Win32.Foundation;
 using Windows.Win32.Graphics.Gdi;
 using Windows.Win32.UI.HiDpi;
 using Windows.Win32.UI.WindowsAndMessaging;
+using WinUIEx;
 using RS_ = Microsoft.CmdPal.UI.Helpers.ResourceLoaderInstance;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.UI;
 
-public sealed partial class ToastWindow : Window,
+public sealed partial class ToastWindow : WindowEx,
     IRecipient<QuitMessage>
 {
     private readonly HWND _hwnd;
@@ -64,19 +65,7 @@ public sealed partial class ToastWindow : Window,
 
     private void PositionCentered()
     {
-        var intSize = new SizeInt32
-        {
-            Width = Convert.ToInt32(ToastText.ActualWidth),
-            Height = Convert.ToInt32(ToastText.ActualHeight),
-        };
-
-        var scaleAdjustment = GetScaleFactor(_hwnd);
-        var scaled = new SizeInt32
-        {
-            Width = (int)Math.Round(intSize.Width * scaleAdjustment),
-            Height = (int)Math.Round(intSize.Height * scaleAdjustment),
-        };
-        AppWindow.Resize(scaled);
+        this.SetWindowSize(ToastText.ActualWidth, ToastText.ActualHeight);
 
         var displayArea = DisplayArea.GetFromWindowId(AppWindow.Id, DisplayAreaFallback.Nearest);
         if (displayArea is not null)
@@ -86,7 +75,7 @@ public sealed partial class ToastWindow : Window,
 
             var monitorHeight = displayArea.WorkArea.Height;
             var windowHeight = AppWindow.Size.Height;
-            centeredPosition.Y = monitorHeight - (windowHeight * 2);
+            centeredPosition.Y = monitorHeight - (windowHeight + 8); // Align with other shell toasts, like the volume indicator.
             AppWindow.Move(centeredPosition);
         }
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/README.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ By default, CmdPal is bound to <kbd>Win+Alt+Space</kbd>.
 
 The fastest way to get started is just to run the "Create extension" command in the palette itself. That'll prompt you for a project name and a Display Name, and where you want to place your project. Then just open the `sln` it produces. You should be ready to go 🙂. 
 
-The official API documentation can be found [on this docs site](TODO! Add docs link when we have one)
+The official API documentation can be found [on this docs site](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/powertoys/command-palette/extensibility-overview).
 
 We've also got samples, so that you can see how the APIs in-action. 
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/AppCache.cs

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps;
 
-public sealed class AppCache : IDisposable
+public sealed partial class AppCache : IDisposable
 {
     private Win32ProgramFileSystemWatchers _win32ProgramRepositoryHelper;
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/AppCommand.cs

@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 // 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;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
@@ -33,8 +35,9 @@ internal sealed partial class AppCommand : InvokableCommand
             {
                 appManager.ActivateApplication(aumid, /*queryArguments*/ string.Empty, noFlags, out var unusedPid);
             }
-            catch (System.Exception)
+            catch (System.Exception ex)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
             }
         }).ConfigureAwait(false);
     }
@@ -46,7 +49,14 @@ internal sealed partial class AppCommand : InvokableCommand
         // const ActivateOptions noFlags = ActivateOptions.None;
         await Task.Run(() =>
         {
-            Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(path) { UseShellExecute = true });
+            try
+            {
+                Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(path) { UseShellExecute = true });
+            }
+            catch (System.Exception ex)
+            {
+                Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
+            }
         });
     }
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Commands/OpenInConsoleCommand.cs

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 
@@ -38,9 +39,9 @@ internal sealed partial class OpenInConsoleCommand : InvokableCommand
 
                 Process.Start(processStartInfo);
             }
-            catch (Exception)
+            catch (Exception ex)
             {
-                // Log.Exception($"Failed to open {Name} in console, {e.Message}", e, GetType());
+                Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
             }
         });
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/PackageWrapper.cs

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.IO;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Windows.Foundation.Metadata;
 using Package = Windows.ApplicationModel.Package;
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/ReparsePoint.cs

@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ public static class ReparsePoint
 
         public static AppExecutionAliasMetadata FromPersistedRepresentationIntPtr(IntPtr reparseDataBufferPtr, AppExecutionAliasReparseTagBufferLayoutVersion version)
         {
-            var dataOffset = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(AppExecutionAliasReparseTagHeader));
+            var dataOffset = Marshal.SizeOf<AppExecutionAliasReparseTagHeader>();
             var dataBufferPtr = reparseDataBufferPtr + dataOffset;
 
             string? packageFullName = null;

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/UWP.cs

@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO.Abstractions;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Xml.Linq;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
+using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using Windows.Win32;
 using Windows.Win32.Foundation;
 using Windows.Win32.System.Com;
@@ -131,8 +133,9 @@ public partial class UWP
                     u = new UWP(p);
                     u.InitializeAppInfo(p.InstalledLocation);
                 }
-                catch (Exception )
+                catch (Exception ex)
                 {
+                    Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
                     return Array.Empty<UWPApplication>();
                 }
 
@@ -161,8 +164,9 @@ public partial class UWP
                 var path = p.InstalledLocation;
                 return !f && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(path);
             }
-            catch (Exception )
+            catch (Exception ex)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
                 return false;
             }
         });

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/UWPApplication.cs

@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ using System.IO.Abstractions;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Xml;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using static Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils.Native;
 using PackageVersion = Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs.UWP.PackageVersion;
+using Theme = Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils.Theme;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
 
@@ -154,8 +156,9 @@ public class UWPApplication : IProgram
                         return true;
                     }
                 }
-                catch (Exception)
+                catch (Exception ex)
                 {
+                    Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
                 }
             }
         }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Programs/Win32Program.cs

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ using System.Security;
 using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Windows.Input;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Commands;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
@@ -239,10 +240,12 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
         }
         catch (Exception e) when (e is SecurityException || e is UnauthorizedAccessException)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
     }
@@ -317,11 +320,13 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
             }
             catch (Exception e) when (e is SecurityException || e is UnauthorizedAccessException)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(e.Message);
                 return InvalidProgram;
             }
         }
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
     }
@@ -374,15 +379,17 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
 
             return program;
         }
-        catch (System.IO.FileLoadException)
+        catch (System.IO.FileLoadException e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
 
         // Only do a catch all in production. This is so make developer aware of any unhandled exception and add the exception handling in.
         // Error caused likely due to trying to get the description of the program
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
     }
@@ -402,14 +409,17 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
         }
         catch (Exception e) when (e is SecurityException || e is UnauthorizedAccessException)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
-        catch (FileNotFoundException)
+        catch (FileNotFoundException e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return InvalidProgram;
         }
     }
@@ -515,16 +525,19 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
                     {
                         files.AddRange(Directory.EnumerateFiles(currentDirectory, $"*.{suffix}", SearchOption.TopDirectoryOnly));
                     }
-                    catch (DirectoryNotFoundException)
+                    catch (DirectoryNotFoundException e)
                     {
+                        Logger.LogError(e.Message);
                     }
                 }
             }
             catch (Exception e) when (e is SecurityException || e is UnauthorizedAccessException)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             }
-            catch (Exception)
+            catch (Exception e)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             }
 
             try
@@ -548,9 +561,11 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
             }
             catch (Exception e) when (e is SecurityException || e is UnauthorizedAccessException)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             }
-            catch (Exception)
+            catch (Exception e)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             }
         }
         while (folderQueue.Count > 0);
@@ -682,6 +697,7 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
         }
         catch (Exception e) when (e is SecurityException || e is UnauthorizedAccessException)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return string.Empty;
         }
     }
@@ -769,8 +785,9 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
             icoPath = ExpandEnvironmentVariables(redirectionPath);
             return true;
         }
-        catch (IOException)
+        catch (IOException e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
         }
 
         icoPath = null;
@@ -839,8 +856,9 @@ public class Win32Program : IProgram
 
             return DeduplicatePrograms(programs.Concat(runCommandPrograms).Where(program => program?.Valid == true));
         }
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception e)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(e.Message);
             return Array.Empty<Win32Program>();
         }
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Storage/FileSystemWatcherWrapper.cs

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ using System.IO;
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Storage;
 
 // File System Watcher Wrapper class which implements the IFileSystemWatcherWrapper interface
-public sealed class FileSystemWatcherWrapper : FileSystemWatcher, IFileSystemWatcherWrapper
+public sealed partial class FileSystemWatcherWrapper : FileSystemWatcher, IFileSystemWatcherWrapper
 {
     public FileSystemWatcherWrapper()
     {

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Storage/ListRepository`1.cs

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
+using ManagedCommon;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Storage;
 
@@ -37,8 +38,9 @@ public class ListRepository<T> : IRepository<T>, IEnumerable<T>
             _items = new ConcurrentDictionary<int, T>(list.ToDictionary(i => i.GetHashCode()));
 #pragma warning restore CS8602 // Dereference of a possibly null reference.
         }
-        catch (ArgumentException)
+        catch (ArgumentException ex)
         {
+            Logger.LogInfo(ex.Message);
         }
     }
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Storage/PackageRepository.cs

@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.Linq;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Storage;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
 using Windows.ApplicationModel;
 
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Storage;
 /// A repository for storing packaged applications such as UWP apps or appx packaged desktop apps.
 /// This repository will also monitor for changes to the PackageCatalog and update the repository accordingly
 /// </summary>
-internal sealed class PackageRepository : ListRepository<UWPApplication>, IProgramRepository
+internal sealed partial class PackageRepository : ListRepository<UWPApplication>, IProgramRepository
 {
     private readonly IPackageCatalog _packageCatalog;
 
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@ internal sealed class PackageRepository : ListRepository<UWPApplication>, IProgr
         // InitializeAppInfo will throw if there is no AppxManifest.xml for the package.
         // Note there are sometimes multiple packages per product and this doesn't necessarily mean that we haven't found the app.
         // eg. "Could not find file 'C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_2020.616.45.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe\\AppxManifest.xml'."
-        catch (System.IO.FileNotFoundException)
+        catch (System.IO.FileNotFoundException ex)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
     }
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Storage/Win32ProgramFileSystemWatchers.cs

@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
+using ManagedCommon;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Storage;
 
-internal sealed class Win32ProgramFileSystemWatchers : IDisposable
+internal sealed partial class Win32ProgramFileSystemWatchers : IDisposable
 {
     public string[] PathsToWatch { get; set; }
 
@@ -47,8 +48,9 @@ internal sealed class Win32ProgramFileSystemWatchers : IDisposable
             {
                 Directory.GetFiles(path);
             }
-            catch (Exception)
+            catch (Exception e)
             {
+                Logger.LogError(e.Message);
                 invalidPaths.Add(path);
             }
         }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Storage/Win32ProgramRepository.cs

@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@ using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
 using System.IO;
 using System.IO.Abstractions;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs;
 using Win32Program = Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Programs.Win32Program;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Storage;
 
-internal sealed class Win32ProgramRepository : ListRepository<Programs.Win32Program>, IProgramRepository
+internal sealed partial class Win32ProgramRepository : ListRepository<Programs.Win32Program>, IProgramRepository
 {
     private static readonly IFileSystem FileSystem = new FileSystem();
     private static readonly IPath Path = FileSystem.Path;
@@ -132,8 +133,9 @@ internal sealed class Win32ProgramRepository : ListRepository<Programs.Win32Prog
                 oldApp = Win32Program.GetAppFromPath(oldPath);
             }
         }
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception ex)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
 
         // To remove the old app which has been renamed and to add the new application.
@@ -192,8 +194,9 @@ internal sealed class Win32ProgramRepository : ListRepository<Programs.Win32Prog
                 app = Programs.Win32Program.GetAppFromPath(path);
             }
         }
-        catch (Exception)
+        catch (Exception ex)
         {
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
 
         if (app != null)

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps/Utils/ShellLinkHelper.cs

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes;
 using System.Text;
+using ManagedCommon;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Apps.Utils;
 
@@ -138,9 +139,9 @@ public class ShellLinkHelper : IShellLinkHelper
         {
             ((IPersistFile)link).Load(path, STGM_READ);
         }
-        catch (System.IO.FileNotFoundException)
+        catch (System.IO.FileNotFoundException ex)
         {
-            // Log.Exception("Path could not be retrieved", ex, GetType(), path);
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
             return string.Empty;
         }
 
@@ -163,9 +164,9 @@ public class ShellLinkHelper : IShellLinkHelper
                 ((IShellLinkW)link).GetDescription(buffer, MAX_PATH);
                 Description = buffer.ToString();
             }
-            catch (Exception)
+            catch (Exception ex)
             {
-                // Log.Exception($"Failed to fetch description for {target}, {e.Message}", e, GetType());
+                Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
                 Description = string.Empty;
             }
 

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/AddBookmarkForm.cs

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ internal sealed partial class AddBookmarkForm : FormContent
             "style": "text",
             "id": "name",
             "label": "{{Resources.bookmarks_form_name_label}}",
-            "value": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(name)}},
+            "value": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(name, BookmarkSerializationContext.Default.String)}},
             "isRequired": true,
             "errorMessage": "{{Resources.bookmarks_form_name_required}}"
         },
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ internal sealed partial class AddBookmarkForm : FormContent
             "type": "Input.Text",
             "style": "text",
             "id": "bookmark",
-            "value": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(url)}},
+            "value": {{JsonSerializer.Serialize(url, BookmarkSerializationContext.Default.String)}},
             "label": "{{Resources.bookmarks_form_bookmark_label}}",
             "isRequired": true,
             "errorMessage": "{{Resources.bookmarks_form_bookmark_required}}"

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/BookmarkPlaceholderForm.cs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ using System.Linq;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Text.Json.Nodes;
 using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmarks.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using Windows.System;
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ internal sealed partial class BookmarkPlaceholderForm : FormContent
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
-            System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine($"Error launching URL: {ex.Message}");
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
 
         return CommandResult.GoHome();

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/BookmarkSerializationContext.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// 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.Generic;
+using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
+
+namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmarks;
+
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(float))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(int))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(string))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(bool))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(BookmarkData))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(Bookmarks))]
+[JsonSerializable(typeof(List<BookmarkData>), TypeInfoPropertyName = "BookmarkList")]
+[JsonSourceGenerationOptions(UseStringEnumConverter = true, WriteIndented = true, IncludeFields = true, PropertyNameCaseInsensitive = true, AllowTrailingCommas = true)]
+internal sealed partial class BookmarkSerializationContext : JsonSerializerContext
+{
+}

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/Bookmarks.cs

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public sealed class Bookmarks
 
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(jsonStringReading))
             {
-                data = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<Bookmarks>(jsonStringReading, _jsonOptions) ?? new Bookmarks();
+                data = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<Bookmarks>(jsonStringReading, BookmarkSerializationContext.Default.Bookmarks) ?? new Bookmarks();
             }
         }
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public sealed class Bookmarks
 
     public static void WriteToFile(string path, Bookmarks data)
     {
-        var jsonString = JsonSerializer.Serialize(data, _jsonOptions);
+        var jsonString = JsonSerializer.Serialize(data, BookmarkSerializationContext.Default.Bookmarks);
 
         File.WriteAllText(BookmarksCommandProvider.StateJsonPath(), jsonString);
     }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/BookmarksCommandProvider.cs

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmarks.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
@@ -97,8 +98,7 @@ public partial class BookmarksCommandProvider : CommandProvider
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
-            // debug log error
-            Debug.WriteLine($"Error loading commands: {ex.Message}");
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
 
         if (_bookmarks == null)

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmarks.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <Import Project="..\..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.AotCompatibility.props" />
   <PropertyGroup>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmarks</RootNamespace>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\extensionsdk\Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit\Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\ext\Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer\Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
-  
+
   <ItemGroup>
     <Compile Update="Properties\Resources.Designer.cs">
       <DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@
       <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
     </Compile>
   </ItemGroup>
-  
+
   <ItemGroup>
     <Content Update="Assets\Bookmark.png">
       <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
@@ -39,5 +40,5 @@
       <Generator>PublicResXFileCodeGenerator</Generator>
     </EmbeddedResource>
   </ItemGroup>
-  
+
 </Project>

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/OpenInTerminalCommand.cs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmarks.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ internal sealed partial class OpenInTerminalCommand : InvokableCommand
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
-            System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine($"Error launching Windows Terminal: {ex.Message}");
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
 
         return CommandResult.Dismiss();

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Bookmark/UrlCommand.cs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
 using Windows.System;
 
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ public partial class UrlCommand : InvokableCommand
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
-            System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine($"Error launching URL: {ex.Message}");
+            Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
         }
 
         return CommandResult.Dismiss();
@@ -87,9 +88,9 @@ public partial class UrlCommand : InvokableCommand
                         return faviconUrl;
                     }
                 }
-                catch (UriFormatException)
+                catch (UriFormatException ex)
                 {
-                    // return "🔗";
+                    Logger.LogError(ex.Message);
                 }
 
                 return "🔗";

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.ClipboardHistory/Helpers/NativeMethods.cs

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ internal static class NativeMethods
         internal INPUTTYPE type;
         internal InputUnion data;
 
-        internal static int Size => Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(INPUT));
+        internal static int Size => Marshal.SizeOf<INPUT>();
     }
 
     [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Explicit)]

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.ClipboardHistory/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.ClipboardHistory.csproj

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <Import Project="..\..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.AotCompatibility.props" />
   <PropertyGroup>
     <RootNamespace>Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.ClipboardHistory</RootNamespace>
     <OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\WinUI3Apps\CmdPal</OutputPath>

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer/FallbackOpenFileItem.cs

@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@
 // 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;
+using System.Globalization;
 using System.IO;
+using System.Text;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Data;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
@@ -10,8 +13,14 @@ using Windows.Storage.Streams;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer;
 
-internal sealed partial class FallbackOpenFileItem : FallbackCommandItem
+internal sealed partial class FallbackOpenFileItem : FallbackCommandItem, System.IDisposable
 {
+    private readonly CompositeFormat fallbackItemSearchPageTitleCompositeFormat = CompositeFormat.Parse(Resources.Indexer_fallback_searchPage_title);
+
+    private readonly SearchEngine _searchEngine = new();
+
+    private uint _queryCookie = 10;
+
     public FallbackOpenFileItem()
         : base(new NoOpCommand(), Resources.Indexer_Find_Path_fallback_display_title)
     {
@@ -21,8 +30,20 @@ internal sealed partial class FallbackOpenFileItem : FallbackCommandItem
 
     public override void UpdateQuery(string query)
     {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(query))
+        {
+            Command = new NoOpCommand();
+            Title = string.Empty;
+            Subtitle = string.Empty;
+            Icon = null;
+            MoreCommands = null;
+
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (Path.Exists(query))
         {
+            // Exit 1: The query is a direct path to a file. Great! Return it.
             var item = new IndexerItem() { FullPath = query, FileName = Path.GetFileName(query) };
             var listItemForUs = new IndexerListItem(item, IncludeBrowseCommand.AsDefault);
             Command = listItemForUs.Command;
@@ -43,12 +64,65 @@ internal sealed partial class FallbackOpenFileItem : FallbackCommandItem
             catch
             {
             }
+
+            return;
         }
         else
         {
-            Title = string.Empty;
-            Subtitle = string.Empty;
-            Command = new NoOpCommand();
+            _queryCookie++;
+
+            try
+            {
+                _searchEngine.Query(query, _queryCookie);
+                var results = _searchEngine.FetchItems(0, 20, _queryCookie, out var _);
+
+                if (results.Count == 0 || ((results[0] as IndexerListItem) == null))
+                {
+                    // Exit 2: We searched for the file, and found nothing. Oh well.
+                    // Hide ourselves.
+                    Title = string.Empty;
+                    Subtitle = string.Empty;
+                    Command = new NoOpCommand();
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                if (results.Count == 1)
+                {
+                    // Exit 3: We searched for the file, and found exactly one thing. Awesome!
+                    // Return it.
+                    Title = results[0].Title;
+                    Subtitle = results[0].Subtitle;
+                    Icon = results[0].Icon;
+                    Command = results[0].Command;
+                    MoreCommands = results[0].MoreCommands;
+
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                // Exit 4: We found more than one result. Make our command take
+                // us to the file search page, prepopulated with this search.
+                var indexerPage = new IndexerPage(query, _searchEngine, _queryCookie, results);
+                Title = string.Format(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, fallbackItemSearchPageTitleCompositeFormat, query);
+                Icon = Icons.FileExplorer;
+                Subtitle = Resources.Indexer_Subtitle;
+                Command = indexerPage;
+
+                return;
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                Title = string.Empty;
+                Subtitle = string.Empty;
+                Icon = null;
+                Command = new NoOpCommand();
+                MoreCommands = null;
+            }
         }
     }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        _searchEngine.Dispose();
+        GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
+    }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer/Pages/IndexerPage.cs

@@ -4,25 +4,22 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
-using ManagedCommon;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Data;
-using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Indexer;
 using Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Properties;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions;
 using Microsoft.CommandPalette.Extensions.Toolkit;
-using Windows.Storage.Streams;
 
 namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer;
 
 internal sealed partial class IndexerPage : DynamicListPage, IDisposable
 {
     private readonly List<IListItem> _indexerListItems = [];
+    private readonly SearchEngine _searchEngine;
+    private readonly bool disposeSearchEngine = true;
 
-    private SearchQuery _searchQuery = new();
+    private uint _queryCookie;
 
-    private uint _queryCookie = 10;
+    private string initialQuery = string.Empty;
 
     public IndexerPage()
     {
@@ -30,16 +27,31 @@ internal sealed partial class IndexerPage : DynamicListPage, IDisposable
         Icon = Icons.FileExplorer;
         Name = Resources.Indexer_Title;
         PlaceholderText = Resources.Indexer_PlaceholderText;
+        _searchEngine = new();
+        _queryCookie = 10;
+    }
+
+    public IndexerPage(string query, SearchEngine searchEngine, uint queryCookie, IList<IListItem> firstPageData)
+    {
+        Icon = Icons.FileExplorer;
+        Name = Resources.Indexer_Title;
+        _searchEngine = searchEngine;
+        _queryCookie = queryCookie;
+        _indexerListItems.AddRange(firstPageData);
+        initialQuery = query;
+        SearchText = query;
+        disposeSearchEngine = false;
     }
 
     public override void UpdateSearchText(string oldSearch, string newSearch)
     {
-        if (oldSearch != newSearch)
+        if (oldSearch != newSearch && newSearch != initialQuery)
         {
             _ = Task.Run(() =>
             {
                 Query(newSearch);
                 LoadMore();
+                initialQuery = string.Empty;
             });
         }
     }
@@ -49,7 +61,9 @@ internal sealed partial class IndexerPage : DynamicListPage, IDisposable
     public override void LoadMore()
     {
         IsLoading = true;
-        FetchItems(20);
+        var results = _searchEngine.FetchItems(_indexerListItems.Count, 20, _queryCookie, out var hasMore);
+        _indexerListItems.AddRange(results);
+        HasMoreItems = hasMore;
         IsLoading = false;
         RaiseItemsChanged(_indexerListItems.Count);
     }
@@ -58,70 +72,16 @@ internal sealed partial class IndexerPage : DynamicListPage, IDisposable
     {
         ++_queryCookie;
         _indexerListItems.Clear();
-        _searchQuery.SearchResults.Clear();
-        _searchQuery.CancelOutstandingQueries();
 
-        if (query == string.Empty)
-        {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        Stopwatch stopwatch = new();
-        stopwatch.Start();
-
-        _searchQuery.Execute(query, _queryCookie);
-
-        stopwatch.Stop();
-        Logger.LogDebug($"Query time: {stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds} ms, query: \"{query}\"");
-    }
-
-    private void FetchItems(int limit)
-    {
-        if (_searchQuery != null)
-        {
-            var cookie = _searchQuery.Cookie;
-            if (cookie == _queryCookie)
-            {
-                var index = 0;
-                SearchResult result;
-
-                var hasMoreItems = _searchQuery.FetchRows(_indexerListItems.Count, limit);
-
-                while (!_searchQuery.SearchResults.IsEmpty && _searchQuery.SearchResults.TryDequeue(out result) && ++index <= limit)
-                {
-                    IconInfo icon = null;
-                    try
-                    {
-                        var stream = ThumbnailHelper.GetThumbnail(result.LaunchUri).Result;
-                        if (stream != null)
-                        {
-                            var data = new IconData(RandomAccessStreamReference.CreateFromStream(stream));
-                            icon = new IconInfo(data, data);
-                        }
-                    }
-                    catch (Exception ex)
-                    {
-                        Logger.LogError("Failed to get the icon.", ex);
-                    }
-
-                    _indexerListItems.Add(new IndexerListItem(new IndexerItem
-                    {
-                        FileName = result.ItemDisplayName,
-                        FullPath = result.LaunchUri,
-                    })
-                    {
-                        Icon = icon,
-                    });
-                }
-
-                HasMoreItems = hasMoreItems;
-            }
-        }
+        _searchEngine.Query(query, _queryCookie);
     }
 
     public void Dispose()
     {
-        _searchQuery = null;
-        GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
+        if (disposeSearchEngine)
+        {
+            _searchEngine.Dispose();
+            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
+        }
     }
 }

src/modules/cmdpal/ext/Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer/Properties/Resources.Designer.cs

@@ -123,6 +123,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Properties {
             }
         }
         
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Search for &quot;{0}&quot; in files.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Indexer_fallback_searchPage_title {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("Indexer_fallback_searchPage_title", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
         /// <summary>
         ///   Looks up a localized string similar to This file doesn&apos;t exist.
         /// </summary>
@@ -168,6 +177,42 @@ namespace Microsoft.CmdPal.Ext.Indexer.Properties {
             }
         }
         
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Always on.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_AlwaysOn {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_AlwaysOn", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Only when file path exist.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_FilePathExist {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_FilePathExist", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Shows file search results on the top-level search results.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_Mode {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_Mode", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Always off.
+        /// </summary>
+        internal static string Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_Off {
+            get {
+                return ResourceManager.GetString("Indexer_Settings_FallbackCommand_Off", resourceCulture);
+            }
+        }
+        
         /// <summary>
         ///   Looks up a localized string similar to Search files on this device.
         /// </summary>