[pjmlp]

Depends on which technlogy you want to use.

For C++, the path to avoid XAML is to stay with legacy MFC, adopt Qt or C++ Builder.

For .NET, there is really no way around XAML, other than keeping using Windows Forms, or doing everything by hand calling the .NET classes that map into XAML components, regardless of WPF, WinUI or MAUI.

Then there is Delphi as well.