Sep 28, 2026 04:38 AM
(This post was last modified: Sep 28, 2026 10:34 AM by Anonynuk.)
Custom Control Manager
A live compile-and-preview workbench for VB.NET custom controls, themes and skins.
Custom Control Manager lets you paste or load VB.NET control source code, compile it in memory, and see the result immediately, with no Visual Studio project, no build and no test form. It was built for people who collect and tinker with WinForms controls, especially theme and skin frameworks (Aeonhack-style ThemeContainer/ThemeControl kits, custom buttons, tab controls, list boxes and so on).
Features
Instant preview: load a file and the controls compile and appear right away. Pick any compiled control from the dropdown to view it live.
Multi-file loading: select several files at once (for example a theme base class plus its controls) and they're combined into one compile, so inherited classes resolve.
Live PropertyGrid: inspect and edit the previewed control's properties while you watch it change.
Themes preview safely: skin controls that restyle their parent form get their own sandbox form, so they can't touch the tool's own window.
Real-project compatibility: applies the standard VB.NET WinForms global imports and relaxed Option Explicit/Strict, so code lifted from real projects compiles without edits.
Extra references: add your own DLL references for controls that depend on other assemblies.
Clear diagnostics: an errors and warnings pane with line numbers pointing into your code.
Starter templates: built-in examples to get going quickly.
Preview backgrounds: switch between white, light gray, dark and black to see how a control looks on each.
Save/Load: open and save source files directly from the editor.
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Enter compiles from anywhere, including inside the editor.
About screen with an animated lava background.
Screenshots:
Main Form
![[Image: 001-Main-Form.png]](https://i.ibb.co/PZHm7LZJ/001-Main-Form.png)
Some Built-In Controls
![[Image: 002-Custom-Built-In-Controls.png]](https://i.ibb.co/LzPvtmC5/002-Custom-Built-In-Controls.png)
Load a theme and see the controls in real-time
![[Image: 003-Theme-Controls-Selection.png]](https://i.ibb.co/dJmmj43G/003-Theme-Controls-Selection.png)
A little demo
![[Image: CCM-Demo.gif]](https://i.ibb.co/vCYgpPFQ/CCM-Demo.gif)
Download: https://sourceforge.net/projects/custom-...p/download
Still testing with different themes\controls and I will prob. end up releasing the source if people are interested in it. Enjoy!
A live compile-and-preview workbench for VB.NET custom controls, themes and skins.
Custom Control Manager lets you paste or load VB.NET control source code, compile it in memory, and see the result immediately, with no Visual Studio project, no build and no test form. It was built for people who collect and tinker with WinForms controls, especially theme and skin frameworks (Aeonhack-style ThemeContainer/ThemeControl kits, custom buttons, tab controls, list boxes and so on).
Features
Instant preview: load a file and the controls compile and appear right away. Pick any compiled control from the dropdown to view it live.
Multi-file loading: select several files at once (for example a theme base class plus its controls) and they're combined into one compile, so inherited classes resolve.
Live PropertyGrid: inspect and edit the previewed control's properties while you watch it change.
Themes preview safely: skin controls that restyle their parent form get their own sandbox form, so they can't touch the tool's own window.
Real-project compatibility: applies the standard VB.NET WinForms global imports and relaxed Option Explicit/Strict, so code lifted from real projects compiles without edits.
Extra references: add your own DLL references for controls that depend on other assemblies.
Clear diagnostics: an errors and warnings pane with line numbers pointing into your code.
Starter templates: built-in examples to get going quickly.
Preview backgrounds: switch between white, light gray, dark and black to see how a control looks on each.
Save/Load: open and save source files directly from the editor.
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Enter compiles from anywhere, including inside the editor.
About screen with an animated lava background.
Screenshots:
Main Form
Some Built-In Controls
Load a theme and see the controls in real-time
A little demo
Download: https://sourceforge.net/projects/custom-...p/download
Still testing with different themes\controls and I will prob. end up releasing the source if people are interested in it. Enjoy!
![[Image: HF-Sig.jpg]](https://xtremediscount.net/Images/HF-Sig.jpg)