Silverlight FAQs

1. What is Silverlight?
   
   Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform software framework to create Rich Internet Applications (RIA) that can be embedded in Web pages.
    
2. How many versions of Silverlight are there?
   
   As of August 2009, Silverlight 3 is the latest version. Older versions include Silverlight 1 and 2.
    
3. Why should I use Expression Blend with Silverlight? I am good at Photoshop, can't I use Photoshop to design the elements?
   
   Expression Blend is a Microsoft product and includes full support for Silverlight applications. Photoshop does not recognize Silverlight applications. Blend provides you number of features that make it easier to design Silverlight applications.
    
4. What is meant by RIA?
   
   RIA stands for Rich Internet Applications which are Web applications with rich user interfaces including media elements such as audio, video etc. You can think of them as being similar to powerful and rich desktop applications except that RIA applications are Web based.
    
5. What are the other RIA technologies besides Silverlight?
   
   Adobe Flex, Java FX, Adobe Flash are some of the other RIA technologies besides Silverlight.
    
6. Which language is Silverlight developed in?
   
   It was developed using a combination of C# and C++.
    
7. What are the design files and the code-behind files in Silverlight?
   
   The user interface elements of Silverlight applications are defined in XAML files. The logic and functionality of Silverlight applications is implemented using managed NET code-behind files that share the same class with the XAML file.
    
8. Who is using Silverlight?
   
   Yahoo! Japan, NBC, Continental Airlines, NASA, Indian Premier League (yes, our very own IPL), and National Instruments are some of the organizations currently using Silverlight to enhance their businesses.
    
9. I don't want to use Internet Explorer to test or view Silverlight applications while developing them. Can I use Google Chrome?
   
   Yes, you can. As a developer, you have the option of setting up a default browser through Visual Web Developer.
    
10. Can I write the program logic for Silverlight applications in a language other than C#?
    
    Yes, as long as it is a .NET supported language, you can use it. For example, you can use IronRuby to write the code.
     
11. What are Deep Zoom and Deep Zoom Composer?
    
    Deep Zoom is a technology in Silverlight that allows users to view images on the Web like they never have before. It provides smooth in-place zooming and panning.
    
    Deep Zoom Composer is a tool that allows preparing of images for use with the Deep Zoom feature in Silverlight 3.
     
12. Can I consume WCF and ASP.NET Web Services in Silverlight?
    
    Yes, you can.
     
13. Does Silverlight 3 support mouse drag drop operations in controls?
    
    Yes, it does.
     
14. What kind of video formats does Silverlight 3 run by default?
    
    Silverlight 3 can run *.WMV and *.MP4 (MPEG-4) video formats by default.
     
15. What is .NET RIA Services?
    
    Microsoft .NET RIA Services helps to simplify the n-tier application pattern by combining the ASP.NET and Silverlight platforms. The RIA Services provides a pattern using which you can write application logic that can run on the mid-tier and controls access to data for queries, changes and custom operations. It also provides support for data validation, authentication and roles by integrating with Silverlight components on the client and ASP.NET on the middle tier.