Silverlight Partner Training: Metro Program
On November 5-6, 2008, I conducted an 8-hour Silverlight training for Microsoft Colombia partners enrolled in the Metro Program. The workshop covered WPF fundamentals, Silverlight development, and hands-on projects building rich internet applications.
Training Agenda
- 8:30 – 9:30: Framework & Tools - What's New in C# and VS2008
- 9:35 – 10:45: WPF 101 - Core Concepts, XAML, Blend, Examples
- 11:05 – 12:30: WPF 201 - Dependency Properties, Routed Events, IValueConverters, ApplicationCommands
- 2:00 – 3:00: Silverlight 101 - Core Concepts & Examples
- 3:05 – 4:15: Silverlight Workshop - Building an MP3 Player, SL-JavaScript Communication
- 4:35 – 5:30: Expression Encoder, Deep Zoom, Silverlight Streaming
Key Topics Covered
WPF Fundamentals
XAML syntax, Expression Blend for design, separation of concerns between UI and code-behind, data binding basics.
Advanced WPF Concepts
Dependency Properties for efficient property systems, Routed Events for bubbling/tunneling, IValueConverters for data transformation, ApplicationCommands for keyboard shortcuts.
Silverlight Development
Cross-browser rich internet applications, JavaScript interoperability, media streaming, Deep Zoom for high-resolution image viewing.
Modern Context: Post-Silverlight Era
Silverlight was discontinued in 2021 as HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript matured to handle rich media natively. However, Silverlight's influence persists:
- • XAML concepts: Live on in WPF, UWP, WinUI, .NET MAUI for desktop/mobile apps
- • Data binding patterns: Adopted by Angular, Vue, React with reactive frameworks
- • Designer-developer workflow: Continues in modern design tools like Figma with dev handoff
- • Rich media streaming: Now handled by HTML5 video, WebRTC, HLS/DASH protocols
Key Takeaways
1. XAML pioneered declarative UI - influencing modern component frameworks
2. Plugin-based RIAs are obsolete - HTML5 won the rich internet application race
3. Binding patterns remain relevant - reactive data flow is now standard
4. Microsoft's pivot was successful - .NET ecosystem thrives without Silverlight