Getting Started with Silverlight

Summary

Silverlight is a technology that allows XAML to be used to design web content that works across different browsers and operating systems. By delivering XAML to the browser and using scripts to automate the XAML, we can create compelling content for a web audience.

Though named similarly, WPF and Silverlight are very different technologies. Silverlight's entire programming model is based on writing client-side scripts for use in a web browser. While WPF XAML and Silverlight XAML have a lot in common, we will still need to learn how to automate Silverlight's XAML assets in a completely different way.

One main question is left unanswered: when should I use WPF and when should I use Silverlight? Silverlight should be used when your intended audience is far reaching. Because WPF requires Windows and the large .NET 3.0 runtime, it is perfect in scenarios where you have more control over the environment of your users. Silverlight, on the other hand, is useful for true Internet applications. While it does require a runtime, that runtime is very small in comparison and will be delivered in a way that web users are comfortable with (in the style of Adobe Flash's runtime).