Microsoft's bid to kill off Adobe's Flash actually looks rather promising. We dig deep to see what Silverlight has to offer in the way of next generation interactive online applications.
Microsoft’s web strategy has never been a roaring success (except for IE). From the beginning it has been myopic and reactive rather than forthcoming, principled and inspiring. Microsoft came late to the game because it didn’t see any business value in the “free and open” Internet. The quote: “The Internet? We are not interested in it” is oftentimes attributable to Bill Gates who later, we would guess, dearly repented for his words.
As Internet startups began to popup like mushrooms; Microsoft reversed its position and went after Netscape. Thanks to Windows’ pervasiveness and Microsoft’s muscle, Internet Explorer became the most widely used browser in the world. To be fair, Netscape's developers had a hand in their product's demise too. Toward the end Netscape became a slow and bloated mish-mash of spaghetti code. Microsoft’s actions, in some way, accelerated its demise.
These days Microsoft can be seen looking unnervingly at Google. We can’t forget the story of Steve Ballmer who “vowed to kill Google in an expletive-laced, chair-throwing tirade when a senior engineer told him he was leaving the company to go work for Google”.
The latest rumour apparently puts Microsoft in the hunt to acquire Yahoo for a staggering $US80 billion. Although the deal sounds nonsensical stranger things have happened. Maybe Bill and Steve are huge fans of Flickr.
Silverlight
What does appear a lot more promising is Microsoft’s latest foray into the world of rich online applications. For a long time Adobe’s Flex/Flash platform has been the only real option for the developers wanting to deliver rich interactive content. (OpenLaszlo fans: the comments section is open for your objections).
Microsoft has finally decided to enter this market too and its initial contribution actually seems impressive. Microsoft Silverlight is a XAML (Extensible Application Markup Language) based runtime which supports vector-based graphics, animation, text, overlays and video playback.
Microsoft defines Silverlight as “a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of Microsoft .NET–based media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web”. It points out what it perceives as the main benefits of Silverlight:
- Compelling cross-platform user experiences.
- Flexible programming model with collaborative tools.
- Efficient, more capable media.
- Connectedness to the Web, server and services.
Let’s take a quick look at each point.
Compelling cross-platform user experience
At the moment the Silverlight plugins (there are two versions: 1.0 beta and 1.1 alpha) will only work with Internet Explorer 6.0/7.0, Firefox and Safari. Apparently Opera will soon be supported as well.
Windows XP, 2003, Vista and Mac OS X 10.4 are the only compatible Operating Systems. There is no mention of Linux but as was reported in Ars Technica, Mono developer Miguel de Icaza has expressed interest in writing an Open Source Linux-compatible Silverlight implementation.
The Silverlight 1.1 alpha plug-in is about 4MB size (the 1.0 beta plug-in is 2MB) and is a snap to install. Microsoft claims that Silverlight will deliver “stunning user interfaces” and “incorporate video, animation, interactivity”.
Maybe Microsoft is right. Go to http://silverlight.net/Default.aspx and check out some examples of Silverlight applications. Also, have a look at some early demos here: http://www.aisto.com/roeder/silverlight/ and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Flexible Programming Model
Silverlight features a cut-down version of the .NET CLR (Common Language Runtime). Obviously not all .NET libraries are included due to size considerations (and not everything is needed anyway).
The alpha version also comes with a Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR) which sits on top of the CLR and provides services (method dispatch, dynamic compilation, etc…) to dynamic languages such as IronPython and Managed JScript.
This allows developers to write Silverlight applications in different .NET languages ranging from C# to VB.NET to IronPython and IronRuby and so on.
Capable Media Solution
Silverlight ignores the W3C ratified SVG standard in lieu of its own XML-based vector graphics. This is a shame given that SVG is just beginning to get more attention. Microsoft is limiting its own chances of success but its behavior follows a pattern – just look at IE7 and its lack of native SVG support.
DRM and Microsoft PlayReady are integrated into Silverlight as well as playback support for WMV, WMA and MP3. Another feature is “flexible ad-insertion…without loss of visual fidelity or motion quality”. More ads... just what we need!
 Chess: The speed difference (look at the number of Nodes/sec) between .NET and native JavaScript routines is overwhelmingly in .NET’s favour. Source: http://tirania.org/blog/archive/2007/May-01.html |
Connectedness
Silverlight can take advantage of LINQ (a set of extensions to .NET which add language integrated query, set and transform operations) and LINQ-to-XML. It is also able to access protocols such as JSON and RSS.
Applications built with Silverlight should be easier to index and search due to their XAML nature.
Industry Reaction
So far the reaction from IT pundits has been positive. The main criticisms have centered on SVG and Linux.
Michael Arrington of TechCrunch said that, “Ajax looks like a bicycle next to a Ferrari when compared to Silverlight”.
Robert Scoble wrote that, “I can see Microsoft coming at Google with a raft of stuff built on top of Silverlight. For end users at home it’ll look slicker, feel better, and have far better video quality than anything Google can throw at Windows users with YouTube/Flash/etc.”.
Ryan Paul of Ars Technica looked at the pros and cons of Silverlight and concluded, “Silverlight is definitely a practical and useful solution for the here and now, and it beats Flash in many respects, but standards-based solutions are better equipped to evolve with the Internet. With sufficient support from Microsoft's competitors, open technologies like XBL, XUL, and SVG could provide strong competition for Silverlight, a point that surely won't be ignored by Adobe.”.
Experience Silverlight
At the moment it looks as if Microsoft has a potential winner with Silverlight. The SVG issue is frustrating but Linux compatibility - with or without Microsoft - will probably be addressed.
Thanks to Windows Update, Microsoft can make Silverlight appear on millions of desktops virtually overnight. It can become as pervasive as Flash but its survival ultimately depends on whether developers warm up to it.
Microsoft says that it is on schedule to ship Silverlight in the first half of this year. The next six or so months will be crucial as Silverlight’s uptake begins to gain momentum.
Will Silverlight work out? Will it displace Flash or go the way of Microsoft’s Bob? Let us know below.
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