Hello,
Ron DeSerranno (of Mobiform XAML Browser fame)
writes in a Zaml.com editorial about wether XAML is
just a Longhorn thingy.
Ron writes:
A lot of people have told me “XAML is just for
Longhorn”. This frustrates me.
I see two or three levels of misunderstanding by
those who make the statement.
The first is that XAML is just for Longhorn because
Microsoft is the only company with a viewer that
understands the format. While this is arguably true at
the moment, Mobiform (and others) are working on
supporting XAML on all versions of Windows and even
non-Microsoft platforms. Companies are already
exploring the use of the Mobiform XAML View Control
for their own applications on non-Longhorn versions of
Windows. XAML is just a document format like HTML or
SVG. There is really nothing about it that restricts
its usage to Longhorn.
Once you use the argument above the next statement
that typically follows is “well XAML is tied to the
Microsoft MSAvalon object model” (MOM as I
affectionately call it), “…so this means XAML is only
of any use on Longhorn.” Wrong again on two counts.
The XAML format has massive potential with no code
behind. Think of the uses in charting, AutoCAD, GIS
and Mapping. All of these verticals can utilize XAML
to produce documents without any need for code behind.
XAML could even be the replacement for PDF that we
have been waiting for. Now could another company
produce an object model for other platforms that
mirrors MSAvalon? Sure they could, that is what
Mobiform is doing. The code behind can work on
Longhorn and non-Longhorn systems. Will Mobiform
convert the XAML into intermediate language like
Longhorn does? Probably not, but the end result for
basic functionality is the same. Longhorn turns the
XAML and code behind into IL, the Mobiform
implementation turns the code behind to IL and the
reads the XAML populating an object model which is
binary. The end result is the same. Now, I know that
the Longhorn implementation will facilitate some very
interesting capabilities by converting XML to IL and
that Mobiform will not be able to do some things that
Longhorn can. But for most XAML document usage and
code behind, the Mobiform implementation can perform
just fine.
Another reason that XAML will show up on all
versions of Windows is that the pent up demand for XML
based graphics and controls is massive, but it hasn’t
been delivered to existing versions of Windows. SVG
has been hugely successful on the graphics side. But
the xForms implementations have been slow to evolve,
and no one has seriously tackled SVG and xForms
implementation. Microsoft pushing XAML for 2006 will
give companies the warm and fuzzy feeling that if they
produce XAML now, they will have support far into the
future. Companies do not want to use some temporary
format, and then re-work their systems in 2006. They
need XAML right now, and companies like Mobiform will
deliver it.
What's your take on it? Do you have any opinion? Do
you agree with Ron's statement that XAML is just a
document format like HTML or SVG and that really
nothing about it restricts its usage to Longhorn?
- Gerald
PS: Ron also runs a poll that asks:
Many say XAML is for Longhorn (Windows 2007) only.
What do you think; will XAML be used on all versions
of Windows?
o Yes - It will be used on all versions of Windows
o No - It will be used on Longhorn Only
Note, that to vote you need to sign up for the XAML
mailinglist/group at Yahoo! online @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XAML
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