[JonBernal]

What is Microsoft Silverlight?

Is it like Java?

[Amadeus]

A more appropriate comparison would be to say it's the MS version of Flash, although there are significant differences.

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Silverlight
http://silverlight.net/


Moved to appropriate forum.

[JonBernal]

Ah, got ya.

Any insight on it?

I personally never heard of it
before

[Core]

Silverlight is basically a web-enabled framework (inlcluded in the Microsoft .NET platform) that can be compared to Adobe Flash. However, the target of this platform is different. Silverlight is for C# developers who want to develop rich multimedia expereiences using the features of the .NET platform.

[JonBernal]

ah, got ya.

Mm seems pretty fancy.

[BetaWar]

It is basically just Microsoft's version of Flash, which is a good thing they are giving it away pretty cheap in comparison to Adobe, as Adobe may lower their prices a bit), but instead of Actionscript Silverlight uses C#.

[Core]

Quote

which is a good thing they are giving it away pretty cheap in comparison to Adobe

The Silverlight itself is free, since you can use it with Microsoft Visual Web Developer Express Edition as a plugin.

For an advanced Silverlight design tool, you will have to purchase Microsoft Expression Blend 2.

[BetaWar]

Quote

For an advanced Silverlight design tool, you will have to purchase Microsoft Expression Blend 2.

Ah, for some reason I was under the impression you had to own Visual Web Developer 2008 full edition to create silverlight apps.

I will have to look into it more.

[Deepglue555]

Also as I just found out 'Silverlight' requires a processor with SSE.
My pre-Athlon XP, My Athlon Thunderbird does not have SSE but only has MMX+ and 3DNOW+, whereas flash will work on any computer x86 (possibly even 486 / 386?)(if it has enough ram to run an internet browser)

[Core]

Quote

Also as I just found out 'Silverlight' requires a processor with SSE.

Silverlight works on every PC with Silverlight runtime. All of the newer machines support SSE commands, therefore it is the main target of the platform.

Anyway, here is the System Requirements page for those who are interested:
http://www.microsoft...all.aspx#sysreq

[Kerrigan]

Core, on 22 Apr, 2009 - 09:57 PM, said:

Quote

Also as I just found out 'Silverlight' requires a processor with SSE.

Silverlight works on every PC with Silverlight runtime. All of the newer machines support SSE commands, therefore it is the main target of the platform.

Anyway, here is the System Requirements page for those who are interested:
http://www.microsoft...all.aspx#sysreq

Silverlight is a RIA platform in .NET Framework.

[crazyjugglerdrummer]

Microsoft tries to copy anything it can't by, like .wma and mp3's, IE vs. Firefox, etc. Silverlight is them trying to take over flash too.

[ADHDeveloper]

crazyjugglerdrummer, on 9 May, 2009 - 12:02 PM, said:

Microsoft tries to copy anything it can't by, like .wma and mp3's, IE vs. Firefox, etc. Silverlight is them trying to take over flash too.

WMA was concieved as a competitor for Real Audio and Mp3, however IE has been around way way WAY longer than firefox

Silverlight is a logical addition to the .Net Framework. As the world moves more towards RIA Microsoft couldnt just sit and let the .net framework be outdated....

[baavgai]

ADHDeveloper, on 20 May, 2009 - 03:22 PM, said:

however IE has been around way way WAY longer than firefox

Incorrect. IE was a competitor to Netscape, which existed prior to Microsoft believing the Internet was going anywhere. Netscape founded Mozilla, from which Firefox descends. Firefox, previously known as Firebird, previously know as Phoenix, is the Open Source descended of a company Microsoft essentially put out of business. There's something rather poetic in that.

[ADHDeveloper]

Yes, netscape was around before IE but IE still is older than Firefox. If we choose to go all the way back then Mosaic was the first graphical browser I think?

Either way for a software company such as microsoft to ignore the Net back in the days of Netscape would have been akin to suicide and similarly now for them to ignore RIA and just let their competitors drive them out of business would be a big mistake.

Silverlight as I mentioned is a logical step in the evolution of the .net platform.