THE BOTTOM-LINE
Telerik is here for you
There’s a lot being talked about now that Microsoft has unveiled Windows 8. Questions abound and answers accumulate. At the end of the day, here’s how we see it: whatever your platform, whatever your project, Telerik is here for you.
Our strategy has always been to respond to market demand and build what our customers need, which means building components and tools for many different platforms. That said, read on to learn more about Windows 8 and Telerik. You can also read more about our strategy in our CEO’s post: Our Strategy has NOT shifted. quicklinks
TELERIK & WINDOWS 8
Friends already
Since Windows 8 supports both Metro and Desktop (we’ll call it
Win7 Mode moving forward) modes, .Net developers using the
Telerik portfolio of tools are set to continue current projects
and to start new ones in the .Net space.
Basically, if you’re already developing for Desktop, Web, or
Mobile your current options at Telerik look
something like the diagram to your right.
Regardless of what your target platform is, Telerik has you covered. Period.
And since everything you’re working on today will continue to work in Win7 mode, you can safely continue using…
- ASP.Net Ajax or MVC
for web-based applications
- Kendo UI
for HTML5-based web applications
- Winforms
for Windows desktop development
- WPF
for more media-centric, richer desktop applications
That’s right, the entire Telerik portfolio remains more relevant than ever for developing applications today, tomorrow, and in a year from now when Windows 8 sees the light of day.
STRAIGHT FACTS ABOUT WINDOWS 8
Windows 8 will usher in a new era of
touch-based, immersive applications for
consumers and business users alike.
Taking advantage of a touch-based environment allows for
a more interactive experience across the board. That said,
Windows 8 is a sort of hybrid – Metro interface for touch-first,
immersive applications and Desktop interface for
what we know as Windows 7 today.
Desktop mode will be the primary interaction surface of a Windows PC
for many years to come, especially for productivity and business
applications, while Metro style applications become the de facto
interaction on consumer focused, touch-centric tablets where a
keyboard and mouse is not the primary interface.
Doug Seven (Executive VP, Telerik) points to a more accurate look at the now infamous green versus blue diagram from Build, offering a slightly more realistic take on what application developers will be working with in Windows 8. But to make things easier for you, here are a few points to think about before we dive deeper into discussing Windows 8.
What is WinRT?
WinRT is a new hybrid platform that looks a lot like .Net… but isn’t. With WinRT you can develop with Xaml, C#, VB, HTML, JavaScript, C++, C, and DirectX to create immersive full-screen applications. It uses Visual Studio 11 (currently in developer preview) for creating applications much like we use VS 2010 today for our .Net development.
What isn't WinRT?
A replacement for .Net. As previously mentioned Windows 8 is a hybrid OS aimed at both the device (read: slate PC) as well as traditional desktop PC markets, allowing for both experiences on a single machine. So the .Net applications you create today will still work on a Windows 8 machine with zero changes needed.
What is the future of Silverlight?
When looking at a technology, the question should be “Is this technology mature and does it meet my business requirements?” With Silverlight 5 we are seeing the most mature and capable version of the platform to date, empowering developers to create rich applications while benefiting from greater ROI and quicker time to market.
How about Winforms, WPF, or ASP.Net AJAX, are they going away?
Most certainly not! WPF is seeing a host of improvements in .Net 4.5, Winforms remains a consistent choice for developers creating applications that don’t rely on rich media, and ASP.Net Ajax/MVC continue to evolve with a server-side story that makes them more and more appealing to use with every version. And they all work perfectly fine on Windows 8. In fact RadControls for Winforms recently got a Metro face lift—check out the video!
Should I be developing against WinRT or .Net for my XYZ application?
While we can’t tell you the best platform for your given scenario, things like Todd Anglin’s decision tree can definitely help. When it comes down to it, WinRT will only work on Win8 machines, so if you need to target anything besides Win8, either .Net or HTML5 are still your platforms of choice. Additionally, WinRT is still in a developer preview stage, meaning it is definitely not ready for production, does not have a go-live license, and has the potential for significant breaking changes moving forward.
Straight facts about Telerik
What’s Telerik doing for Windows 8? And, what does it mean for you?
Having extensive experience with Microsoft development platforms as well as being a TAP partner, Telerik has a long history of not only staying up to date with the MS platforms but of staying on the leading edge to help customers safely transition when they are prepared to update their current applications or start on a new technology. Silverlight is not dead. Metro is not bad. HTML5 is not a silver bullet. All have their place for the right projects, and Telerik, thanks to its success and scale, is the only vendor helping developers be productive regardless of the platform decision.
So here’s what’s going on with each of the platforms:
Silverlight and WPF
Silverlight and WPF are mature, robust platforms for building native line-of-business apps for all versions of Windows, including Windows 8 desktop—it’s the most ideal platform for business applications where the primary interface is keyboard and mouse. We will continue to aggressively enhance and extend RadControls for Silverlight and WPF to meet the needs of business developers.
Metro
For business, Metro is an ideal platform for field agents and other forms of mobile workforce who need touch-centric, sensor-aware, extended battery life, always connected, portable devices instead of a traditional laptop. As we continue development for Silverlight and WPF, we will simultaneously be introducing new, tailored XAML controls for Metro-style applications. You will be able to re-use your C# and XAML skill to build METRO apps - so stay tuned ! Check out the 3-part blog series, RadChart for WinRT, by Georgi Atanasov.
HTML5 and JavaScript
HTML5 and JavaScript are emerging as the preferred technologies for building apps that can run natively on any platform or device, whether mobile or desktop. Telerik is embracing HTML5 and JavaScript application development through enrichment of the mature RadControls for ASP.NET AJAX and the introduction of a new, modern, jQuery-based framework called Kendo UI.
Mobile
Developers interested in building mobile applications for iOS, Android, or Blackberry will have everything they need in Kendo UI Mobile, a single framework that will automatically adapt to the native styles of different mobile devices.
So, rest easy. We’re with you every step of the way, whether you transition to new technologies today, tomorrow, a year from now, or several years after that.