Microsoft Silverlight: Light Up the Web
Silverlight Overview
http://www.microsoft.com/SILVERLIGHT/ <---- check this out! so cool!
Microsoft Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform implementation
of the .NET Framework for building and delivering the next generation
of media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIA) for the
Web. Silverlight unifies the capabilities of the server, the Web, and
the desktop, of managed code and dynamic languages, of declarative and
traditional programming, and the power of Windows Presentation
Foundation (WPF).
What Is Silverlight?
Silverlight enables you to create a state-of-the-art application that has the following features:
-
It
is a cross-browser, cross-platform technology. It runs in all popular
Web browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox,
and Apple Safari, and on Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS X.
-
It provides a consistent experience no matter where it runs.
-
It is supported by a very small download that installs in seconds.
-
It
streams video and audio. It scales video quality to everything from
mobile devices to desktop browsers to 720p HDTV video modes.
-
It includes compelling graphics that users can manipulate—drag, turn, zoom—directly in the browser.
-
It reads data and updates the display, but it doesn't interrupt the user by refreshing the whole page.
What Features Are in Silverlight?
Silverlight
combines multiple technologies into a single development platform that
enables you to select the right tools and the right programming
language for your needs. Silverlight offers you the following features:
-
WPF
and XAML. Silverlight includes Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
technology, which greatly extends the elements in the browser for
creating UI. WPF lets you create immersive graphics, animation, media,
and other rich client features, extending browser-based UI beyond what
is available with HTML alone. Extensible Application Markup Language
(XAML) provides a declarative markup syntax for creating WPF elements.
See Creating User Interfaces with Silverlight for more information.
-
Extensions
to JavaScript. Silverlight provides extensions to the universal browser
scripting language that provide powerful control over the browser UI,
including the ability to work with WPF elements. See Silverlight 1.0 - Development with JavaScript for more information.
-
Cross-browser,
cross-platform support. Silverlight runs the same on all popular
browsers (on any platform). You can design and develop your application
without having to worry about which browser or platform your users
have. See Creating and Deploying Silverlight Applications for more information.
-
Integration
with existing applications. Silverlight integrates seamlessly with your
existing JavaScript and ASP.NET AJAX code to complement functionality
you have already created. See Integrating Silverlight with ASP.NET Web Pages for more information.
-
Access
to the .NET Framework programming model and to associated tools. You
can create Silverlight-based applications using dynamic languages such
as managed JScript and IronPython as well as languages such as C# and
Visual Basic. You can use development tools such as Visual Studio to
create Silverlight-based applications. See Common Language Runtime and Base Class Library in Silverlight and Dynamic Languages in Silverlight 2 for more information.
-
LINQ.
Silverlight includes language-integrated query (LINQ), which enables
you to program data access using intuitive native syntax and strongly
typed objects in .NET Framework languages. See Working with XML Data in Silverlight for more information.
-
If
you already use ASP.NET, you can integrate Silverlight with the server
and client capabilities of ASP.NET that you are familiar with. You can
create server-based resources in ASP.NET and use the AJAX capabilities
of ASP.NET to interact with server-based resources without interrupting
the user.
Silverlight.net
Silverlight.net
is a general Silverlight developer site that provides resources such as
samples, QuickStarts, white papers, instructional videos, forums, and
blogs. In particular, beginners might want to check out the
Silverlight.net QuickStarts.
Tools
Silverlight.net provides all the downloads you need to create Silverlight-based applications, including developer and designer tools.
Silverlight for Designers
Designers
can benefit from many of the resources listed previously in this topic,
especially those that cover XAML. XAML is a powerful declarative markup
language that is the foundation for creating engaging graphics,
animation, and media in Silverlight. XAML is similar to HTML, but it is
more powerful and extensible. In addition, there are several
professional design tools available to Silverlight designers. You can
find these tools on the Silverlight.net site.
Samples