Silverlight works with Ajax, what does this mean?
How many times you read about Silverlight supporting Ajax? It's great to know, but does it mean?. As far as I know, after working a little with Silverlight is that you can use the class "download" to asynchronous access to the server side code. I was expecting a library of class or an update panel to be able to access the server side code without doing all the work with download.
I have been trying to use a webservice in Silverlight without any success, the problem is having a web site and a project with Silverlight together. On the demos seem pretty easy, however I challenge you to try it. There is a link on your right mouse click to link a website with a silverlight project. I used the link and the project gets link, however I cannot compile anymore. I wonder if I am missing anything. I am using VS2008 but the framework 2.0 for the website as using XP I cannot attach 3.5 to IIS 6 yet. That sounds like should work as many hosters are now supporting ASP.NET 2.0 and Silverlight.
What Silverlight does great is loading videos on the web, still I don't think is competing with Flex and Flash. I'm sure Microsoft is already planing for Silverlight 2.0 and my wish list for that release is the following:
- Silverlight should have a TAB on the control to drag and drop on any web form.
- All server side methods available like WebRequest.
- Silverlight templates for different controls
- Expression Blend to have controls like TextBox and DropDownList
In a few words, Silverlight is light years from being complete, looking forward to see what Microsoft does with Silverlight 2.0
Cheers
Al