Example embodiments for generating a user interface are presented. In an example embodiment, a layout definition for the interface is accessed, in which the layout definition defines user interface groups, each of which include one or more user interface elements. Also accessed are metadata describing the groups and the elements of each group, with each element having a corresponding type. One or more control renderers are also accessed, with each control renderer including programming code to render those of the elements of a corresponding type based on the metadata. Also accessed are one or more context renderers, with each context renderer including programming code to arrange the rendered elements in a layout for the user interface based on relationships between groups. The control renderers and context renderers are executed to render the user interface.