WPF When and Why

[mwaqas72]

Hi All

Can anyone advise when and why use the WPF?
Is it same powerful for browser base application?

Muhammad Waqas

[Phil Weber]

I would use WPF when:

• I am creating a new Windows desktop application, and
• I have a long enough schedule for my developers to learn a new technology, or
• I want to do something that's difficult or impossible to do with Windows Forms

It would also be helpful to have a professional UI designer on the project; it's easy for non-designers to create very ugly UIs with WPF.

I would use it because:

• WPF is much more powerful than Windows Forms, and
• It has ongoing support from Microsoft. Windows Forms is no longer being developed.

You cannot use WPF for browser-based applications, but you can use Silverlight, which is similar.

[Phil Weber]

For several examples of what's possible with WPF, take a look at this site: http://www.thirteen23.com/experiences/desktop/

[gurge60]

WPF browser apps (also known as XAML Browser Application or XBAP) are an option, but are often passed over due to the fact that they require Internet Explorer and the full .NET 3 framework installed in order to run. For general purpose apps I think most people are looking to full WPF or Silverlight.

Some more examples:
http://windowsclient.net/community/showcase.aspx

One last thing to consider that is often overlooked when considering WPF. If you have an existing Windows Forms app, you don't necessarily have to do a full port if you want to move to WPF. Interop between the two is possible to do, so you can take advantage of an existing code base & toolset while adding features that WPF excells at, such as visualization of data.

[mwaqas72]

Thanks All

What is sliverlight?

Muhammad Waqas

[Hack]

http://silverlight.net/