The Silverlight DataForm control
A very impressive demo of the DataForm control, which dynamically generates a data entry form based on a data model. The model can be annotated with metadata tags that control form labels and validation rules. This code would generate a form control for a required numeric value with a specific range (minimum & maximum)
[Display(label="Age:")]
[Required]
[Range(1,115)]
public int age;
The resulting form control would require a numeric value in the form. Its label would be specified by the [Display] tag, and if the user broke the validation rules a validation error message would be displayed automatically.
Silverlight weaknesses
Trust the Q&A session to bring weaknesses to light. Silverlight does not have these features, which are supported by Adobe Flash Player and/or AIR:
- Webcam
- Programmatic clipboard copy & paste
- Native printing API
Labels: Silverlight
Silverlight out of the browser
Many of the features of Silverlight are nearly identical to Flash Player 10: HD video support, streaming, pixel bending, etc. etc. One big difference though is the implementation of 'out of the browser' support - the equivalent of AIR.
Silverlight apps on the desktop run within a sandbox - I don't know how restrictive it is, but as a result the local installation doesn't have to present any scary security warnings. There's clearly a tradeoff - the broad system access that Adobe AIR apps wouldn't be possible - but user acceptance levels might be much greater.
Labels: Adobe AIR, Silverlight
Silverlight Firestarter
I'm reporting today from the Microsoft campus in Redmond. OK, this is odd - I've NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE. After 20 years or so in tech, this is the first visit to the beast.
Today's event is a 1-day conference-style collection of presentations on Silverlight - the player, development tools, etc. The first speaker is Mithun Dhar, sort of the Ben Forta of Silverlight. More to come. Right now we're just dealing with coffee & pastries.
Labels: Silverlight
