Windows Presentation Foundation Overview

Greg SmalterRed Stapler Software, LLC

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)

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.)

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

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

Tools

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

generate XAML.

Comparisons

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

Other Resources Good, flashy presentation by Filipe Fortes:

http://sessions.mix06.com/display_detail.asp?sessionChoice=2001&disc=&pid=NGW030&year=2005

Five day course for WPF: http://blogs.msdn.com/karstenj/archive/2006/06/15/my-five-day-course-for-hitting-the-wpf-curve-cliff.aspx

Flashy WPF/E demo: http://www.wynapse.com/WPFE/ReflectionBuilder.html

Microsoft’s WPF slides: http://wpf.netfx3.com/content/Spreadtheword.aspx