Roadmap

The WinForms suite is still gaining momentum, being in the Telerik portfolio for less than three years. In the last two releases our focus was on optimizing performance, improving usability, adding new vital products, and expanding the feature set of the existing controls.

Currently the WinForms product line features a consistent API based on the Windows Forms conventions, as well as a solid framework foundation. We have been working on delivering a much more consistent and slick look for our controls, by refreshing all themes and applying a uniform skinning approach.

In Q2 2009 (expected at the beginning of July) we will be delivering major performance and usability enhancements to cope with the ever growing demand for super fast applications. Several of the existing controls will get new major versions. We are also working on the next version of the Visual Style Builder for WinForms (expected in Q3 2009) which will simplify and speed up the theme creation process considerably.

Memory usage and footprint

We know that memory footprint is the one of the most important perspectives for any application. Our efforts will be towards lowering the memory footprint for the most used Telerik controls, such as RadGridView, RadComboBox and the new RadDock. We also plan to review our theming mechanism and decrease the overall memory usage across all controls.

Performance optimizations

Here we will focus on application and RadForm loading times, as well as boosting the performance of RadGridView. The theming mechanism will also be reviewed, namely the time it takes to paint and/or change a theme at run-time.

On a larger scale we will concentrate on RadObject - the smallest element in the Telerik Presentation Framework - which will have a positive impact on all controls. The refactoring will bring many important advantages over the previous implementation, namely:

• A new engine for property value retrieval, which will significantly improve the property value’s execution speed, meaning faster operations;
• Minimized memory footprint of each object and greater overall performance;
• Fully customizable API per RadObject, which will allow for even more extensibility options for TPF;
• Clear concept when PropertyChanging and PropertyChanged notifications are raised (only when an actual new value is available);
• Simpler structure for storing all related modifiers for each RadProperty.

RadDock

A completely revamped new version (Q2 beta is available for download), which will offer all features of the current RadDockingManager, plus:

• New, simplified and completely transparent architecture based on a single interface – IDockPane – which will offer direct access to all logical objects;
• IDockPane will be backed up by an internal HostDockPane which will guarantee the correct behavior of hosted or hosting control(s);
• Automated way of hosting and treating Control and/or Form objects, including a simpler and unified API for handling each case;
• ToolWindows’ drag-and-drop functionality will be embedded directly in RadDock, rather than depending on window messages, as is the current case. This will guarantee correct drag-and-drop behavior and will solve flickering and window-deactivation problems of the main form;
• The new version will feature updated UI, better drawing performance, better theme management, and better positioning of items, all through updated layouts;
• The Load/Save layout will be based on Name for determining the docking content. Similar to XAML, the XML code will correspond to the logical objects in RadDock (an example is provided in the attached files);
• Improved design-time support;
• For more information on the new RadDock version click here.

RadScheduler

RadScheduler will get a polished UI, an improved architecture with more extensibility options, as well as several important design-time improvements.

RadRibbonBar

Continuing from where we left off in Q1 2009, this major version will offer extended design-time capabilities, and RadRibbonForm transparency support under Windows Vista and Windows 7.

RadToolStrip

Several design-time enhancements are planned for better overall development experience.

RadForm and RadRibbonForm

The new major version of Telerik Forms will come with transparency support under Windows Vista and Windows 7, as well as with many important improvements in the look and feel, such as superior loading performance, improved resizing, enhanced refresh behavior, and new mechanism for applying borders.

Visual Style Builder

Parallel to the above improvements, we will also actively work on the beta of Visual Style Builder which aims towards simplifying the interaction with the tool. Ultimately, we are trying to provide a way to fully customize the look of the RadControls components through a visual interface, without the need to know the front-end structure of the components. The new VSB will feature:

• New design surface with simplified and very user-friendly interface. The user will know which element he is working on, without the need to go through the entire element tree; 
• Predefined states and elements for each control, which will be reused throughout all controls (i.e. once a new state for a particular element is created, it will be reused throughout the rest of the controls that have an element with the same state). This should speed up theme development considerably; 
• New Theme storage approach; 
• Style repository - reusing already created styles among many elements/controls in a theme.

The new Visual Style Builder for WinForms is expected in Q3 2009, with a beta version coming shortly after the official Q2 2009 release this summer. More information on the new Visual Style Builder will be provided in the Telerik sandbox and the Telerik blogs.