RSSSilverlight 2 Beta 1 debuts with the hope of dynamic language support
By Nate Mook and Scott M. Fulton, III | Published March 5, 2008, 6:39 PM
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With Silverlight 2 comes a richer subset of the .NET Framework, more front-end controls to work with including a more reliable set of the basic controls, and the freedom to program in a high-level static language such as Visual Basic or C#, or a dynamic language such as IronPython or IronRuby. It will be these latter languages -- products of the collaboration of some of their originators and Microsoft -- that may stir the most attention, as many perceive these less rigid, more adaptable dynamic languages to be better suited to Web development.
But that particular feature will have to wait a little while, perhaps for a later beta of the toolkit, BetaNews discovered today.
As a new tutorial posted today makes clear, the new Silverlight Tools Beta 1 (also available for download from Microsoft) is meant to be integrated into Visual Studio 2008. As that download page indicates, the toolkit for VS 2008 today contains templates for use only with C# and Visual Basic, the two languages supported by Silverlight 1.1 -- which was the first version to enable application programming support.
As the company's Silverlight general manager, Scott Guthrie, wrote a few weeks ago on his personal blog, there may be reason for hope. "Developers can write Silverlight applications using any .NET language (including VB, C#, JavaScript, IronPython and IronRuby)," Guthrie wrote.
Scripting is somewhat different, of course, than writing a stand-alone distributable application. But scripting is also where dynamic languages thrive, and Microsoft dynamic languages developer John Lam posted one example this morning. It involves a new and heretofore unmentioned extension called Dynamic Silverlight (DSL), which Lam says comprises a mere 712K of packaged code.
Unlike its VS 2008-based counterpart, DSL can be executed from a command-line console. That console serves as a kind of bargain-basement deployment testbed, from which the templates you need to generate a running application can be assembled literally on the fly. Those templates are capable of gathering the necessary files for a fully deployed Silverlight 2 application, distributing them over the Web to a designated browser (by zipping them into a single file and uploading it), and launching the app remotely.
Among the files DSL distributes are the XAML files the DSL app needs to recreate its front end (its UI) on the client. Arguably, it would be nicer if one had access to VS 2008 or Expression Studio (whose next version also entered Beta 1 today), for building XAML files using an environment that's nicer than Notepad.
For the graphic Web designer, it's the Expression product line that's typically associated with development, more than Visual Studio. Perhaps for this reason, the development cycles for Silverlight and Expression are currently out of sync, BetaNews learned today.
Though Expression Studio also entered its beta cycle for the 2.0 version today, that timing appears to be coincidence. The graphic developer will need Expression Blend 2.5, whose preview edition is now downloadable from Microsoft, to build SL 2.0 applications.
Unfortunately, MS is already taking the wrong direction with older machines that meet minium standards for systems like xp, 2000, ME, and 98. For these users only Adobe Flash is able to meet the needs due to higher processing power required in order for Silverlight to work.
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|How about gnash then?
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|...or upgrade?
The minimum standards of 2000 are ridiculously low by today's standards.
And 98?
fo'git about it...
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|"Consumers will never be forced into installing Silverlight..."
No kidding, as it will be part of the Windows install.
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|I was thinking more along the lines of "you don't have to, but then you can't use our website!"
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|And the anti-MSFT bunch would want to do that...why?
every new rich Web application it develops from here on out will be based on Silverlight.
In no way implies they'll limit the use of the website to Silverlight users. That would be asinine. Just as you can access their flash sites *without* flash, you should expect to be able to access their silverlight sites without silverlight.
Sheesh...
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|. Consumers will never be forced into installing Silverlight, Goldfarb promised, not due to the need to respond to someone's anti-competition findings, but out of its own principles. "Consumers should want to install Silverlight to get these great experiences," he said.
I'd *really* love to know where you get the "it will be part of the Windows install" BS.
Ah, right, I keep forgetting. You don't need facts to troll.
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|Isn't silverlight cross-platform? Why would it be in a Windows install?
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|Because El Dingo ... is a troll.
C'mon, you knew that.
Hell, *everyone* knows that.
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|El Dingo is back with his nonsense.
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|As history has shown, M$ will do Windows first and any other version will be treated as a second class citizen. Cross platform to M$ means make the complete version for M$ Windows and a half baked version for OSX, just like they did with Office.
Then make sure the TurdLight or whatever that Mono version is called, is half baked like OSX.
Only a M$ fanboy like PC_Troll thinks M$ will not behave as they always have.
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|This is true... but I want to know his answer :)
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|Except Office does not come preinstalled with Windows or Osx, talk about a horrible example.
Silverlight is already working cross platform for osx and linux, talk about pulling stuff out of your rear
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|Heh..
Makes about as much sense as he usually does.
Typical Dingo logic. If he can't post relevant arguments, he starts pulling wildly at straws.
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|My god, this is just too dumb to ignore :)))
Why would M$ NOT 'do' Windows first, given it is their horse (and otherwise like any other sane company trying to cover as much of the market as possible)?
Oh I forgot - Software from Apple and Linux groups is of course 1st targeting the competition's platform.
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|PitDimWit,
The closest relevant *existing* framework like silverlight under MSFT's domain is .NET. If you are going to compare silverlight to something, at least *try* and be in the same frigging ballpark.
FYI: Silverlight is already cross-platform...and it works the same on Linux as it does on the Mac, as it does in Windows.
Yet again, El Dingo posts nothing relevant, spews BS, and calls the guy posting actual facts the troll/fanboy.
He couldn't be this ironic if he tried.
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|Yeah, crap - he got me to respond! The comment was just so retarded the time space continuum started fluctuating.
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|it would be in the windows install just like IE, Windows Media and all the other crap products they bundle with the OS because no one would use them otherwise.
BTW, what does cross-platform have to do with it not being part of the Windows install?
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|hey look, PC_Troll responds with a post which makes zero sense it is no where near the same topic as the parent post.
Why do you post at all?
Sure it works exactly the same. Does M$ provide a GNU/Linux port? Oh that's right...they don't. But they do "support" the mono implementation. LOL.
keep trying, your rants are comical.
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|Dang! Looks like El Dingo needs to know the topic before posting his nonsense.
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|pc_troll posts under his other usernames i see. Who says Office comes preinstalled?
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|guess you failed reading comprehension like the other M$ drones on here.
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|exactly, right out of the classic M$ play book.
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|pot, meet kettle.
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|perhaps simply looking at M$ other bundling strategies....read much?
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|Such as?
Your ealier example of Office went over so well...why don't you give us a few more.
Ya know, relevant one's where they've publicly promised they won't do it and then went ahead and did it anyway.
What? Nothing that quite fits that?
Amazing...
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|Sorry, jackass.
I quote facts, I stay on topic, and I use logic in my reasoning.
Your reasoning consists of "If it's MSFT, it's bad!".
...which can hardly be called reasoning.
Fact: They have stated they will not bundle.
If you can show me *one* product they've bundled after *specifically stating* they will not, then you might actually have an argument. As it is, you're just spewing BS, that while amusing, has zero relevance to the actual topic.
of course, that would require you being something more than a troll. :) Best of luck with that.
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|I have one alt on this site. Term ain't it.
Try again.
(hint: haven't used it in about 3 months)
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|lmao...
You compare Office to Silverlight and call *me* off topic.
Pure comic gold, man. Keep it up.
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|Quote pitdimwit:
M$ will do Windows first and any other version will be treated as a second class citizen.
Quote preinterpost:
Why would M$ NOT 'do' Windows first, given it is their horse (and otherwise like any other sane company trying to cover as much of the market as possible)?
Reading comprehension not your strong suit?
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|t would be in the windows install just like IE
Your crystal ball tell you that?
I know, I know....you're going to cry about how they've done it before...
So...when exactly *was* the last time they promised not to bundle something...and then went ahead and bundled it anyway?
Do tell....
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|sure, office on OSX does not have all the features of office on M$ Windows. Are you saying it does?
Again, a post that makes zero sense, and no where near topic. Then again, your name is PC_Troll after all.
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|you do realize there is context tothat sentence, right? Did you read the whole post? Obviously not, since you are just trolling.
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|they never have made such a promise, including here.
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|Nor is office forced or comes bundled with the OS, your main point was silverlight comes bundled with the os. You fail.
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|Pure comedy gold, its a well documented fact you hate MS yet you come and post on topics about MS of a company you clearly hate, who exactly is the troll?
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|Consumers will never be forced into installing Silverlight, Goldfarb promised,
You are a complete effing moron.
Just go away.
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|you do realize there is context tothat sentence, right?
Right. Of course, the rest of the comment was also pure BS, he just chose to focus on that priceless nugget.
Did you read the whole post?
Sure did. It was especially funny in that next bit where you claim versions other than those for windows would be less useful than the one for windows, considering it's *already* cross-platform. You've obviously never actually *used* any of it, so where's your proof? Yeah, sorry...stupid question...you never have any.
Obviously not, since you are just trolling.
You're right. I should just be more like you, ranting incoherently about things I know nothing about, making wild accusations, asserting wild speculation as fact, and generally making a complete a** of myself.
On second thought, I'll just leave that to you, you seem to have it all covered pretty well.
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|Here's a few things you might want to think about:
Calling people off-topic for responding to your incoherent rants is, by nature, off topic. Thank you, Cap't. Obvious.
Office is not, nor has ever *been* cross-platform. They have released separate versions for Mac and Windows with varying degrees of compatibility. Perhaps you need to have a glance at the dictionary?
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