Windows Presentation Foundation Overview

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Windows Presentation Foundation Overview

• Greg Smalter
• Red Stapler Software, LLC

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Agenda

• Discussion of WPF applicability
• Demos of WPF using Cider and Expression Blend
• More discussion on what WPF means for a developer
  (as opposed to other roles)

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Benefits

• Markup/code-behind model (like ASP.NET)
• Excellent layout options and text flow features
• Access to powerful graphics hardware
• Certain otherwise-impossible effects are made
  easy (skewing and rotating textboxes, etc.)

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Drawbacks

• Users are not big fans of having their text boxes
  skewed and rotated
• Steep learning curve
• Confusing scope
• Does not cover all bases covered by Windows Forms

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Developers Perspective

• WPF is not aimed at developers
• Clearly not geared towards adding elements
  dynamically through code-behind
• It is difficult to set some properties on
  elements (Grid.Row, for example) in code-behind
• Marks a return to weak-typing

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Tools

• Cider (Visual Studio 2005)
• Expression Blend
• XAML Pad
• 3D tools such as Lightwave can generate XAML.

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Comparisons

• WPF vs. DirectX and GDI
• WPF/E vs. ASP.NET AJAX

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Other Resources

• Good, flashy presentation by Filipe Fortes
  http//sessions.mix06.com/display_detail.asp?sessi
  onChoice2001discpidNGW030year2005
• Five day course for WPF http//blogs.msdn.com/kar
  stenj/archive/2006/06/15/my-five-day-course-for-hi
  tting-the-wpf-curve-cliff.aspx
• Flashy WPF/E demo http//www.wynapse.com/WPFE/Ref
  lectionBuilder.html
• Microsofts WPF slides http//wpf.netfx3.com/cont
  ent/Spreadtheword.aspx