Silverlight 1.0 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) [Paperback]

Devin Rader (Author), Jason Beres (Author), J. Ambrose Little (Author), Grant Hinkson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470228407 | ISBN-13: 978-0470228401 | Publication Date: October 29, 2007

Silverlight--the hot new web technology based on the powerful WPF graphics platform that ships with Windows Vista--is the web developer's choice for creating cross-platform interactive applications that work in multiple browsers. This one-of-a-kindreference shows you, with full-color illustrations, how to create rich interactive apps with Silverlight.

In these color-filled pages, a crack team of Wrox experts gives you a comprehensive introduction to Silverlight. You'll see the vivid graphics and video images you can achieve. You will learn to use the component languages, tools, and techniques of Silverlight to create applications that enhance the user experience. You'll also discover how to leverage existing technologies, such as JavaScript(r), XAML, ASP.NET, and AJAX, and incorporate them with development tools like Visual Studio(r), Expression(r) Encoder, and Expression Blend. Soon you'll be building everything from basic static pages to Internet applications that integrate rich media and animation.

What you will learn from this book

* Easy ways to incorporate graphics, animation, audio, and video into Internet applications
*

Methods for creating rich media apps that run on Windows(r) and Mac(r), as well as in Internet Explorer, Firefox(r), and Safari
*

How to write standard JavaScript within an HTML page to manipulate and program against any XAML DOM element, storyline animation, or video
*

Ways to integrate Silverlight within existing HTML pages, web sites, and ASP.NET applications
*

How to handle data access in Silverlight applications using AJAX

Who this book is for

This book is for professional web developers who want to take advantage of Silverlight's capabilities to create rich interactive applications.

"[This book] makes a great companion for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of Silverlight without wading through the reference material in the SDK. If you're looking for a trustworthy guide to show you how Silverlight can light up your web applications, you'll find this book a great starting point."
--Tim Sneath, Group Manager for Client Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Corporation

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Silverlight—the hot new web technology based on the powerful WPF graphics platform that ships with Windows Vista—is the web developer's choice for creating cross-platform interactive applications that work in multiple browsers. This one-of-a-kindreference shows you, with full-color illustrations, how to create rich interactive apps with Silverlight.

In these color-filled pages, a crack team of Wrox experts gives you a comprehensive introduction to Silverlight. You'll see the vivid graphics and video images you can achieve. You will learn to use the component languages, tools, and techniques of Silverlight to create applications that enhance the user experience. You'll also discover how to leverage existing technologies, such as JavaScript®, XAML, ASP.NET, and AJAX, and incorporate them with development tools like Visual Studio®, Expression® Encoder, and Expression Blend. Soon you'll be building everything from basic static pages to Internet applications that integrate rich media and animation.

What you will learn from this book

• Easy ways to incorporate graphics, animation, audio, and video into Internet applications

• Methods for creating rich media apps that run on Windows® and Mac®, as well as in Internet Explorer, Firefox®, and Safari

• How to write standard JavaScript within an HTML page to manipulate and program against any XAML DOM element, storyline animation, or video

• Ways to integrate Silverlight within existing HTML pages, web sites, and ASP.NET applications

• How to handle data access in Silverlight applications using AJAX

Who this book is for

This book is for professional web developers who want to take advantage of Silverlight's capabilities to create rich interactive applications.

"[This book] makes a great companion for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of Silverlight without wading through the reference material in the SDK. If you're looking for a trustworthy guide to show you how Silverlight can light up your web applications, you'll find this book a great starting point."
—Tim Sneath, Group Manager for Client Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Corporation

About the Author

Devin Rader is a Product Manager on the Infragistics Web Client team, responsible for leading the creation of Infragistics ASP.NET and Silverlight products. Devin is also an active proponent and member of the .NET developer community, being a co-founder of the St. Louis .NET User Group, an active member of the New Jersey .NET User Group, a former board member of the International .NET Association (INETA), and a regular speaker at user groups. He is also a contributing author on the Wrox title Professional ASP.NET 2.0 and a technical editor for several other Wrox publications and has written columns for ASP.NET Pro magazine, as well as .NET technology articles for MSDN Online. You can find more of Devin’s musings at www.geekswithblogs.com/devin.

Jason Beres is the Director of Product Management for Infragistics, the world's leading publisher of presentation layer tools. Jason is also one of the founders of Florida .NET User Groups, he is founder of the New Jersey .NET User Group, he is a Visual Basic .NET MVP, he is on the INETA Speakers Bureau, and he is on the INETA Board of Directors. Jason is the author of several books on .NET development, an international speaker, and a frequent columnist for several .NET publications. He also keeps very active in the .NET community.

J. Ambrose Little is the User Experience and Guidance group lead at Infragistics. He is a Microsoft Solutions Architect MVP, an ASPInsider, author of numerous articles, co-author of Professional ADO.NET 2 and ASP.NET 2.0 MVP Hacks and Tips from Wrox, and he has spoken at various user groups, events, and conferences. He’s been designing and developing web sites and applications professionally for more than 8 years.

Grant Hinkson is Director of Visual Design at Infragistics, a software company specializing in reusable interface components and application design. He is passionate about design, usability, and technology and is rewarded by working with a team of people who share similar passions. He loves both design and development and thrives in the worlds of Silverlight and WPF, where he gets to exercise both sides of his brain. Grant has been involved with both WPF and Silverlight since their pre-Beta days, working with Expression Blend when it was affectionately known by its codename Sparkle. Grant is author of the Fireworks to XAML Exporter, is a frequent contributor to Adobe’s Developer Center site, and has spoken at major industry design events.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wrox (October 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470228407
• ISBN-13: 978-0470228401
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,856,267 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Devin Rader works at Infragistics where he focuses on delivering great user experiences to developers using their controls. He's done work on all of the .NET platforms, but most recently has been focused on ASP.NET and Silverlight. As a co-founder of the St. Louis .NET User Group, a current board member of the Central New Jersey .NET User Group and a former INETA board member, he's an active supporter of the .NET developer community. He's also the co-author or technical editor of numerous books on .NET including Wrox's Silverlight 3 Programmers Reference and Wrox's Professional ASP.NET 4. Follow Devin on Twitter @devinrader

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good introduction, but not recommended over Silverlight 1.0 Unleashed, October 21, 2007

By 

.NET Code Monkey - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Silverlight 1.0 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

There is nothing [reference-wise] in this book that is not in the Silverlight 1.0 SDK. However, it does provide more useful code samples and explanations, making it easier to get up to speed on Silverlight quickly.

Three points I liked:
1. The authors did a good job of explaining the relationship among the various developer tools you can use to implement Silverlight apps (Visual Studio 2005 & 2008, Expression Blend, and plain 'ole Notepad).

2. Very little time is spent on JavaScript basics...they instead jump right into scripting to manipulate the Silverlight objects.

3. I initially dismissed the full-color code/screen shots as gimmicky--especially in the first chapter when someone got trigger-happy with almost five pages screen shots showing you nothing more than how to download Silverlight and the SDK--but beyond that, it was actually quite helpful. The color source code makes it exactly like Visual Studio, so you can immediately grab the key points.

What would have made this book perfect is to show more best practices and lessons learned. A book that DOES have those extras--despite Silverlight's state of infancy--is Silverlight 1.0 Unleashed. I recommend that book over this Wrox counterpart if you are a developer. If you are in a non-developer role (account manager, sales, etc.), this Wrox book does a better job of conceptually explaining Silverlight, how to sell others on it, etc.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book that will help you to get up at speed with this fantastic new technology from Microsoft, November 6, 2007

By 

Giuseppe (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silverlight 1.0 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

This is a book that will help you to get up at speed with this fantastic new technology from Microsoft, this book gives you all the information you need to start developing some great Silverlight apps.

I really appreciate the fact that has all the pictures and code in color, it helps a lot to understand, also I appreciate the fact that the authors didn't went so deep in the HTML/JavaScript details, instead they went straight to the core of Silverlight and how to use it.

I have to say that I got the book, and I couldn't stop to read. This is one of those books that you will like to have on your side has a reference when you are working on any Silverlight project.

After this book I gain more interest for the XAML, WPF that Microsoft has been doing with the new version of .NET framework ( .NET 3.5).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great way to start with Silverlight, November 6, 2007

By 

trulygreat "Thia" (WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silverlight 1.0 (Wrox Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

OK for those who are wanting to start with Silverlight but have found the way that Silverlight.net displays information as too confusing, this book is for you. Its a great starter book. I waited and waited for it and while its not complete by any means (it would be hard to do that with Silverlight being in its infancy), it gives you all the information you need to start developing some great Silverlight apps.

My only complaint is that the price-point does not match the book. I expected a much thicker volume at this price. Thankfully purchasing from Amazon gives you a much cheaper price.