Silverlight – How to start

After knowing the fact that everybody is interested in silverlight but don’t know how to start, I decided to write a small post on my blog.

As you know silverlight is a very interesting technology not just because it’s new but also for a lot special effects which it generate. Till now silverlight 1.0 is has been released and beta version of silverlight 2.0 is available.

First some points you should know before starting silverlight.

1. What is silverlight and why silverlight?

2. What is WPF?

3. What is Xaml?

4. So what is difference between flash and silverlight?

5. Why is silverlight always surrounded with ajax??

I will try to explain about this in very short and for details Contact our God – Google J

 1. What is silverlight :

 Microsoft Silverlight is a programmable web browser plugin that provides support for rich internet applications such as animation, vector graphics and audio-video playback. Silverlight competes with products such as Adobe Flash, Adobe Flex, Adobe Shockwave, and JavaFX. Now in beta-testing, version 2.0 brings improved interactivity and support for .NET languages and development tools.

  

2. What is WPF:

 The Windows Presentation Foundation (or WPF), formerly code-named Avalon, is a graphical subsystem in .NET Framework 3.0 (formerly called WinFX)^[1] and is directly related to XAML.^[2] Version 3.0 of WPF is pre-installed in Windows Vista,^[3] the latest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system. WPF is also available for installation on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003. It provides a consistent programming model for building applications and provides a clear separation between the UI and the business logic. A WPF application can be deployed on the desktop or hosted in a web browser. It also enables rich control, design, and development of the visual aspects of Windows programs. It aims to unify a host of application services: user interface, 2D and 3D drawing, fixed and adaptive documents, advanced typography, vector graphics, raster graphics, animation, data binding, audio and video. Although WinForms will continue to be widely used, and Microsoft has created only a few WPF applications, the company promotes WPF for line of business applications.Remember Silverlight is a subset of WPF.

 3. What is Xaml.

 Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML, pronounced zammel ([zæ:mɛl]) is a declarative XML-based language created by Microsoft which is used to initialize structured values and objects. It is available under Microsoft’s Open Specification Promise.^[1] The acronym originally stood for Extensible Avalon Markup Language – Avalon being the code-name for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).

 4. So what is difference between flash and silverlight.

 I hope will get answer very early but first think why I asked this question.

 5. Why silverlight always surrounded with ajax??

 

Hmmmm ……. now I get caught. Actually most of the things (specially definitions) are from Wikipedia But I know you still not getting the point…

  

Now let me explain. As I think silverlight is nothing but a new technology which is developed to improve web presentation layer.

 

 You might ask what need of improvement is or where is the need of improvement?? So as you have already experienced if you need a background with different colors and gradient of the colors, what will you do?? Answer is very simple you will put an image in back ground or to make it lighter you will cut strip only and repeat it in x or y direction.

  

And this is the place where I need improvement I want more flexibility in html. I want to give glassy or 3D effects to my website and here html get failed.

 

So obviously if you have to play with presentation layer then you should have to play with markup language. And XAML is nothing but it’s your tool here. Actually Xaml is the markup language which has all these capabilities. And how can you use, you can learn easily with Visual Studio or Expression Blend.

 

I hope now will get the point why silverlight always discuss with ajax. Yes you are right as silverlight is deals with client side so to communicate with server you need ajax (xmlhttp request) .

 

I am providing here some links that you can start your Silverlight Mission.

 

There are 8 tutorials from Mr. Scott .

 

Part 1 – Creating a Hello World with Silverlight 2 and VS 2008
Part 2 – Using Layout Management
Part 3 – Using Networking to Retrieve Data and Populate a DataGrid
Part 4 – Using Style Elements to Better Encapsulate Look and Feel
Part 5 – Using the ListBox and DataBinding to Display List Data
Part 6 – Using User Controls to Implement Master/Details Scenarios
Part 7 – Using Templates to Customize Look and Feel
Part 8 – Creating a Digg Desktop Version of our Application using WPF

 

Again Microsoft silverlight website has also very good videos and tips.

 

http://silverlight.net/getstarted/

  

Next time we will discuss some more on silverlight. Till bye n take care.