WPF Beginnings

[Pollynator]

The Windows Presentation Foundation (or WPF), formerly code-named Avalon, is a graphical subsystem in .NET Framework 3.0 (formerly called WinFX), which uses a markup language, known as XAML, for rich user interface development.

I have worked with WPF when it was still in its infancy and I thoroughly enjoyed it, it allows developers a completely customizable environment for creating usable, user friendly GUI’s whilst supplying rich content management.

The use of a markup language allows developers (us) to separate the GUI from the back end code.

Two of the hugest advantages I have found of is the level of customizability and the way that WPF has Data binding built directly into the core of the language.
For those familiar with any XML based markup language one can immediately see that XAML is just a form of XML.

XAML works in a similar fashion to ASP.Net in that the Markup language is rendered use the XML based file and the backend code provides the logic. The difference of course is that WPF is run locally and is not server based and everything is done in real-time.
I don’t plan on re-writing Wikipedia here but for more details look at Wikipedia/WPF and MSDN
I have been doing some additional research and playing WPF recently for my Team as we are considering starting one of our new projects in WPF or Silverlight.

I have written a little File Copy application that copies files from one directory stored locally to another shared location on a number of servers.

Basically I use this copy application to push file or updates to client machines.
The application is called Toxicopy™ [I named it ] and it was written in WPF and C#, It is VERY unfinished but illustrates the possibilities of WPF. I did ALL the styling and customizations to the controls and wrote the backend code. If you are interested in looking at the code you are welcome… just ask for the source. I have provided the exe if you want to just run it (it targets Dot.Net 3.0)… I have added animations and styles to all the controls.



I will continually add to this thread as I grow in experience and find interesting blogs and resources.

This is a baby thread for now just as introduction.

To start with WPF look here:
http://windowsclient.net/edownloads.aspx

[TitanKing]

That is sweet man! Is it under a open source license?

[Pollynator]

WPF unfortunately is a Microsoft product and hence they have tied it in heavily with their Dot.Net packages, this limits the language to Windows based OS'es .

I will try and add some more guides and tips when I get more time. So watch this space if you are interested.

[TitanKing]

Hehe, no I realize but open source can be Windows based too. To rephrase, will you be giving it away for free when you are done or is it your own private program or will you be selling it?

[Razer]

Nice Polly. Let us beta test for you.