Introducing Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon) The Next GDI? Shawn Wildermuth Wildermuth Consulting Services, LLC

Who I Am Shawn Wildermuth Independent Consultant C# MVP INETA Speaker Book Author – “Pragmatic ADO.NET” – “Prescriptive Data Architectures” - Upcoming This Presentation can be found at: – Shawn Wildermuth Independent Consultant C# MVP INETA Speaker Book Author – “Pragmatic ADO.NET” – “Prescriptive Data Architectures” - Upcoming This Presentation can be found at: –

Agenda Happy Birthday GDI Introducing Avalon Hardware Rendering XML Based Markup Avalon Layout New Control Model Happy Birthday GDI Introducing Avalon Hardware Rendering XML Based Markup Avalon Layout New Control Model

Happy Birthday GDI Been around for 20 years – Amazing longevity – Allows writing of productive apps easily – Developer high productivity Been around for 20 years – Amazing longevity – Allows writing of productive apps easily – Developer high productivity

Happy Birthday GDI (2) Problems with GDI – Easy to write vanilla looking applications – Hard to write good looking applications – Dated Look and Feel – Owner-Drawn code is hard – 2-D is better with GDI+, but still verbose – 3-D is possible with DirectX but difficult Problems with GDI – Easy to write vanilla looking applications – Hard to write good looking applications – Dated Look and Feel – Owner-Drawn code is hard – 2-D is better with GDI+, but still verbose – 3-D is possible with DirectX but difficult

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Happy Birthday GDI (3) Product Differentiation – Bigger challenges grabbing user interest – Grey boxes are on their way out – OS X adding to the competitive pressure Product Differentiation – Bigger challenges grabbing user interest – Grey boxes are on their way out – OS X adding to the competitive pressure

Introducing Avalon Originally Part of Vista only – Now works with XP SP2 and W2K3 Now Available (January CTP) – Runtime lets you run WPF Apps – SDK includes VS 2005 Support The GDI for the next 10 Years Originally Part of Vista only – Now works with XP SP2 and W2K3 Now Available (January CTP) – Runtime lets you run WPF Apps – SDK includes VS 2005 Support The GDI for the next 10 Years

What is Avalon Hardware Rendered Graphics System – Not tied to DPI – Sometimes called Aero (the Hardware Layer) Improved Control Model – Easier to create custom UI’s XML Based Markup Language (XAML) – Similar ASP.NET 2.0 Programming Model Program Deployment Models – Standalone, Click Once and Express Apps Hardware Rendered Graphics System – Not tied to DPI – Sometimes called Aero (the Hardware Layer) Improved Control Model – Easier to create custom UI’s XML Based Markup Language (XAML) – Similar ASP.NET 2.0 Programming Model Program Deployment Models – Standalone, Click Once and Express Apps

Hardware Rendered Graphics Drawing Directly on GPU Surface – Not tied to the DPI of the machine Impact on Battery Should Be Minimal – Reduced CPU Load Should Balance GPU Load Scalable Renderers – Three levels of rendering  Level 0: Software  Level 1: DirectX 7+ Support –(Pixel and Vertex Shaders), 32 Megs Video Memory  Level 2: DirectX 9+ Support –(Pixel Shader 2.0), 64 Megs of Video Memory Drawing Directly on GPU Surface – Not tied to the DPI of the machine Impact on Battery Should Be Minimal – Reduced CPU Load Should Balance GPU Load Scalable Renderers – Three levels of rendering  Level 0: Software  Level 1: DirectX 7+ Support –(Pixel and Vertex Shaders), 32 Megs Video Memory  Level 2: DirectX 9+ Support –(Pixel Shader 2.0), 64 Megs of Video Memory

Improved Control Model GDI Challenges – Controls are not flexible – Setting Properties are the path to customization – Owner-drawing controls are expensive – Advanced customization requires significantly more work. GDI Challenges – Controls are not flexible – Setting Properties are the path to customization – Owner-drawing controls are expensive – Advanced customization requires significantly more work.

Improved Control Model (2) New Control Model – Build with the platform for the platform – Controls can contain anything (e.g. Controls) – Controls have flexible styling model

Improved Control Model (3) Keyboard Navigation – Use arrow keys to navigate your application – Separate from Tab Navigation Globalization and localization – “Size to content” by default – Built-in support for “right to left” Accessibility – Accessibility is not an afterthought – UIAutomation patterns in all base classes— consistent across all controls Keyboard Navigation – Use arrow keys to navigate your application – Separate from Tab Navigation Globalization and localization – “Size to content” by default – Built-in support for “right to left” Accessibility – Accessibility is not an afterthought – UIAutomation patterns in all base classes— consistent across all controls

Improved Control Model (4) Look-less Controls – Do not contain “Render” code – Visuals Come From  Your App  Theme File – Keep Behavior, Change Style  Separation between UI Design and UI Functionality Look-less Controls – Do not contain “Render” code – Visuals Come From  Your App  Theme File – Keep Behavior, Change Style  Separation between UI Design and UI Functionality

Programming Model XAML – “XML Application Markup Language” – The Design Language of WPF – Tools will create XAML or Can be Hand coded BAML – “Binary Application Markup Language” – Binary Representation of XAML – More Efficient XAML – “XML Application Markup Language” – The Design Language of WPF – Tools will create XAML or Can be Hand coded BAML – “Binary Application Markup Language” – Binary Representation of XAML – More Efficient

Programming Model (2) C#, VB.NET, etc. – Used to glue behavior with XAML/BAML – Think of XAML/BAML as the drawing code – CLR Languages still used to do heavy lifting C#, VB.NET, etc. – Used to glue behavior with XAML/BAML – Think of XAML/BAML as the drawing code – CLR Languages still used to do heavy lifting

Programming Model (3) XAML <window … /> BAML … C#/VB.Net Partial class … WPF App Interpret Compile Combine

XML Based Markup (XAML) Elements tied to Controls (1 to 1) – is class Canvas – is class Window – is class Button – is class TextBox Elements tied to Controls (1 to 1) – is class Canvas – is class Window – is class Button – is class TextBox Click Me! Hello There Click Me!

XML Based Markup (XAML) (2) Composite Controls – Simple hierarchy model – Content of most controls can store other controls Composite Controls – Simple hierarchy model – Content of most controls can store other controls Hello there

XML Based Markup (XAML) (3) Layout Models – Canvas: Specific Placement – StackPanel: Horizontal or Vertical Stacking – DockPanel: Control Docking (Explorer-like) – Grid: Guideline-based UI – TextFlow: Document Flow – Navigation: Web-like forward/back – Demo Layout Models – Canvas: Specific Placement – StackPanel: Horizontal or Vertical Stacking – DockPanel: Control Docking (Explorer-like) – Grid: Guideline-based UI – TextFlow: Document Flow – Navigation: Web-like forward/back – Demo

DataBinding Simple and powerful model – Target: any property of any Element – Source: public property of CLR objects:  CLR and “Avalon” properties  ADO DataColumns (TypeDescriptor)  XML Node – Dynamic  IPropertyChange  DependencyProperty or;  PropertyDescriptor – TwoWay – Value Converter Simple and powerful model – Target: any property of any Element – Source: public property of CLR objects:  CLR and “Avalon” properties  ADO DataColumns (TypeDescriptor)  XML Node – Dynamic  IPropertyChange  DependencyProperty or;  PropertyDescriptor – TwoWay – Value Converter

DataBinding (2) Binding Types – Simple Xml Syntax for Binding to Anything – Abbreviated Syntax also Supported Binding Types – Simple Xml Syntax for Binding to Anything – Abbreviated Syntax also Supported <Canvas xmlns=" xmlns:x=" > <Canvas xmlns=" xmlns:x=" > <Label Canvas.Top="50" Content="{Binding Path=Value, ElementName=slider}" />

DataBinding (3) Support for Common DataSources – Uses a hierarchical DataContext concept Support for Common DataSources – Uses a hierarchical DataContext concept StackPanel Image HorizontalSlider Value= {Bind Path=XPos, Source={StaticResource theCar}} Canvas.Left= {Bind Path=XPos, Source={StaticResource theCar}} DataContext= {Bind Source={StaticResource theCar}} Value= {Bind Path=XPos} Canvas.Left= {Bind Path=XPos}

DataBinding (4) Binding Types – OneWay, TwoWay, OneTime – OneWay and OneTime work with any object  Property Based Reads – TwoWay uses IPropertyChange interface – Collections use ICollectionChange interface Binding Types – OneWay, TwoWay, OneTime – OneWay and OneTime work with any object  Property Based Reads – TwoWay uses IPropertyChange interface – Collections use ICollectionChange interface

Styles Similar to CSS, but can style structure – Inline Styling is supported – Defining Style of Control just works Similar to CSS, but can style structure – Inline Styling is supported – Defining Style of Control just works

Animation Animation Support is built in – Uses Storyboard idea for animation timelines Animation Support is built in – Uses Storyboard idea for animation timelines <Page xmlns=" xmlns:x=" <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="MyRectangle" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Width" From="100" To="200" Duration="0:0:5" AutoReverse="True" RepeatBehavior="Forever" />

Animation (2) More Complex Animation – Different Timeline Models (e.g. Parallel) More Complex Animation – Different Timeline Models (e.g. Parallel) <Page xmlns=" xmlns:x=" <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="MyRectangle" Storyboard.TargetProperty="Width" From="100" To="200" Duration="0:0:2" AutoReverse="True" RepeatBehavior="Forever" /> <DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="MyRectangle" Storyboard.TargetProperty=“Height" From="100" To=“50" Duration="0:0:2" AutoReverse="True" RepeatBehavior="Forever" /> Need to fix this, not compatible with December

3D Modeling Real 3D Modeling Language – Concepts like multiple cameras, lights, meshes and geometries are in the language. Real 3D Modeling Language – Concepts like multiple cameras, lights, meshes and geometries are in the language. <MeshGeometry3D x:Key="PlaneMesh" Positions=" " Normals=" " TextureCoordinates=" " TriangleIndices=" " /> <Viewport3D.Models...

Multimedia Support for simplified Audio/Video handling – – Simple wrappers around the Media Player APIs Support for simplified Audio/Video handling – – Simple wrappers around the Media Player APIs <Window xmlns=" xmlns:x="

Design Tools Designers for different users – Cider: Programmer Level  A WinForms-like experience – Sparkle: Designer Level  Hybrid of Artist and Data Binding  Similar to HTML-level designing – Expression: Artist Level  A Photoshop/Illustration-like experience Demo Designers for different users – Cider: Programmer Level  A WinForms-like experience – Sparkle: Designer Level  Hybrid of Artist and Data Binding  Similar to HTML-level designing – Expression: Artist Level  A Photoshop/Illustration-like experience Demo

Conclusion Avalon/XAML are the next GDI – Will they last 20 years? Probably not… – But they bring us into the GPU – And make better UI’s easier to write Avalon/XAML are the next GDI – Will they last 20 years? Probably not… – But they bring us into the GPU – And make better UI’s easier to write

Questions?