diff --git a/lib/Slic3r/GUI.pm b/lib/Slic3r/GUI.pm
index a8799c458f..78e82a6ef4 100644
--- a/lib/Slic3r/GUI.pm
+++ b/lib/Slic3r/GUI.pm
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ sub OnInit {
     # Windows: "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Slic3r" or "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Slic3r"
     # Mac: "~/Library/Application Support/Slic3r"
     Slic3r::set_data_dir($datadir || Wx::StandardPaths::Get->GetUserDataDir);
+    Slic3r::GUI::set_wxapp($self);
     
     $self->{notifier} = Slic3r::GUI::Notifier->new;
     $self->{app_config} = Slic3r::GUI::AppConfig->new;
diff --git a/lib/Slic3r/GUI/MainFrame.pm b/lib/Slic3r/GUI/MainFrame.pm
index 2f93899a42..370bac2ed0 100644
--- a/lib/Slic3r/GUI/MainFrame.pm
+++ b/lib/Slic3r/GUI/MainFrame.pm
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ sub new {
     my ($class, %params) = @_;
     
     my $self = $class->SUPER::new(undef, -1, $Slic3r::FORK_NAME . ' - ' . $Slic3r::VERSION, wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize, wxDEFAULT_FRAME_STYLE);
+    Slic3r::GUI::set_main_frame($self);
     if ($^O eq 'MSWin32') {
         # Load the icon either from the exe, or from the ico file.
         my $iconfile = Slic3r::decode_path($FindBin::Bin) . '\slic3r.exe';
@@ -92,6 +93,8 @@ sub _init_tabpanel {
     my ($self) = @_;
     
     $self->{tabpanel} = my $panel = Wx::Notebook->new($self, -1, wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize, wxNB_TOP | wxTAB_TRAVERSAL);
+    Slic3r::GUI::set_tab_panel($panel);
+
     EVT_NOTEBOOK_PAGE_CHANGED($self, $self->{tabpanel}, sub {
         my $panel = $self->{tabpanel}->GetCurrentPage;
         $panel->OnActivate if $panel->can('OnActivate');
@@ -145,6 +148,9 @@ sub _init_tabpanel {
         $tab->load_current_preset;
         $panel->AddPage($tab, $tab->title);
     }
+
+#TODO this is an example of a Slic3r XS interface call to add a new preset editor page to the main view.
+#    Slic3r::GUI::create_preset_tab("print");
     
     if ($self->{plater}) {
         $self->{plater}->on_select_preset(sub {
@@ -330,6 +336,8 @@ sub _init_menubar {
         $menubar->Append($windowMenu, "&Window");
         $menubar->Append($self->{viewMenu}, "&View") if $self->{viewMenu};
         $menubar->Append($helpMenu, "&Help");
+        # Add an optional debug menu. In production code, the add_debug_menu() call should do nothing.
+        Slic3r::GUI::add_debug_menu($menubar);
         $self->SetMenuBar($menubar);
     }
 }
diff --git a/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.cpp b/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.cpp
index 63cc7749d4..8db0508f13 100644
--- a/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.cpp
+++ b/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 #pragma comment(lib, "user32.lib")
 #endif
 
+#include <wx/app.h>
+#include <wx/button.h>
+#include <wx/frame.h>
+#include <wx/menu.h>
+#include <wx/notebook.h>
+#include <wx/panel.h>
+#include <wx/sizer.h>
+
 namespace Slic3r { namespace GUI {
 
 #if __APPLE__
@@ -134,4 +142,45 @@ void break_to_debugger()
     #endif /* _WIN32 */
 }
 
+// Passing the wxWidgets GUI classes instantiated by the Perl part to C++.
+wxApp       *g_wxApp        = nullptr;
+wxFrame     *g_wxMainFrame  = nullptr;
+wxNotebook  *g_wxTabPanel   = nullptr;
+
+void set_wxapp(wxApp *app)
+{
+    g_wxApp = app;
+}
+
+void set_main_frame(wxFrame *main_frame)
+{
+    g_wxMainFrame = main_frame;
+}
+
+void set_tab_panel(wxNotebook *tab_panel)
+{
+    g_wxTabPanel = tab_panel;
+}
+
+void add_debug_menu(wxMenuBar *menu)
+{
+#if 0
+    auto debug_menu = new wxMenu();
+    debug_menu->Append(wxWindow::NewControlId(1), "Some debug");
+    menu->Append(debug_menu, _T("&Debug"));
+#endif
+}
+
+void create_preset_tab(const char *name)
+{
+    auto  *panel  = new wxPanel(g_wxTabPanel, wxID_ANY, wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize, wxBK_LEFT | wxTAB_TRAVERSAL);
+    // Vertical sizer to hold the choice menu and the rest of the page.
+    auto  *sizer  = new wxBoxSizer(wxVERTICAL);
+    sizer->SetSizeHints(panel);
+    panel->SetSizer(sizer);
+    auto  *button = new wxButton(panel, wxID_ANY, "Hello World", wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize, 0);
+    sizer->Add(button, 0, 0, 0);
+    g_wxTabPanel->AddPage(panel, name);
+}
+
 } }
diff --git a/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.hpp b/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.hpp
index 955a1cd8db..3634e0bc8a 100644
--- a/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.hpp
+++ b/xs/src/slic3r/GUI/GUI.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+class wxApp;
+class wxFrame;
+class wxMenuBar;
+class wxNotebook;
+
 namespace Slic3r { namespace GUI {
 
 void disable_screensaver();
@@ -12,6 +17,16 @@ std::vector<std::string> scan_serial_ports();
 bool debugged();
 void break_to_debugger();
 
+// Passing the wxWidgets GUI classes instantiated by the Perl part to C++.
+void set_wxapp(wxApp *app);
+void set_main_frame(wxFrame *main_frame);
+void set_tab_panel(wxNotebook *tab_panel);
+
+void add_debug_menu(wxMenuBar *menu);
+// Create a new preset tab (print, filament or printer),
+// add it at the end of the tab panel.
+void create_preset_tab(const char *name);
+
 } }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/xs/xsp/GUI.xsp b/xs/xsp/GUI.xsp
index ce3c178a14..d6b55dbf13 100644
--- a/xs/xsp/GUI.xsp
+++ b/xs/xsp/GUI.xsp
@@ -22,3 +22,18 @@ bool debugged()
 
 void break_to_debugger()
     %code{% Slic3r::GUI::break_to_debugger(); %};
+
+void set_wxapp(SV *ui)
+    %code%{ Slic3r::GUI::set_wxapp((wxApp*)wxPli_sv_2_object(aTHX_ ui, "Wx::App")); %};
+
+void set_main_frame(SV *ui)
+    %code%{ Slic3r::GUI::set_main_frame((wxFrame*)wxPli_sv_2_object(aTHX_ ui, "Wx::Frame")); %};
+
+void set_tab_panel(SV *ui)
+    %code%{ Slic3r::GUI::set_tab_panel((wxNotebook*)wxPli_sv_2_object(aTHX_ ui, "Wx::Notebook")); %};
+
+void add_debug_menu(SV *ui)
+    %code%{ Slic3r::GUI::add_debug_menu((wxMenuBar*)wxPli_sv_2_object(aTHX_ ui, "Wx::MenuBar")); %};
+
+void create_preset_tab(const char *name)
+    %code%{ Slic3r::GUI::create_preset_tab(name); %};