APPLICATION PLATFORM FOR DESIGNING AND EXECUTING APPLICATIONS

In a computer-implemented method for using an application platform to design an application, an interface for developing an application is displayed at a computer system, the interface including a plurality of components for use in visually designing the application. A selection of a component is received at the interface. A placement of the component in the application is received within the interface. The application is compiled such that the application executes natively on a target processor, and where the application is bound directly to a native graphics library associated with the target processor. A style selection for the component of the application is received, the style selection modifying an appearance of the component. The application including the style selection is executed within the interface during design time such that the component is rendered according to the style selection without re-compiling the application.