The release of the OpenSilver 2.0 project has been introduced, continuing the development of the Silverlight platform and allowing the creation of interactive web applications using C#, XAML, and .NET technologies. Applications compiled with OpenSilver can run in any desktop and mobile browser supporting WebAssembly, but compilation is currently only possible on Windows using the Visual Studio environment. The project's code is written in C# and distributed under the MIT license.
In 2021, Microsoft ceased the development and support of the Silverlight platform in favor of standard web technologies. Initially, the OpenSilver project aimed to provide tools to extend the life of existing Silverlight applications in light of Microsoft's discontinuation of platform support and the end of plugin support in browsers. OpenSilver supports all the main features of the Silverlight engine, including full support for C# and XAML languages, as well as the implementation of much of the platform API, sufficient for using C# libraries such as Telerik UI, WCF RIA Services, PRISM, and MEF.
In its current form, OpenSilver has already moved beyond a mere layer to extend the life of Silverlight and can be seen as a standalone platform for creating new applications. For example, the project is developing a development environment (add-in for Visual Studio), providing support for new versions of the C# language and the .NET platform, and offering compatibility with libraries in JavaScript.
The basis of OpenSilver utilizes code from open projects Mono (mono-wasm) and Microsoft Blazor (part of ASP.NET Core), and for execution in the browser, applications are compiled into WebAssembly intermediate code. OpenSilver is evolving alongside the CSHTML5 project, which allows compiling C#/XAML/.NET applications into JavaScript representations suitable for browser execution, expanding its codebase with the capability to compile C#/XAML/.NET into WebAssembly instead of JavaScript.
Key improvements in the OpenSilver 2.0 branch:
- Support for VB.NET has been added for web application development, using the Visual Basic programming language for logic and XAML markup language for the interface.
- Integration with Blazor, React, and Angular frameworks has been provided. The "XAML for Blazor" component has been added for integrating OpenSilver into existing Blazor projects.
- The Live XAML Preview feature has been added to preview the developing interface as it is being developed, without the need to run the application.
- Business application templates have been proposed to simplify the development of web applications for enterprises, utilizing RIA services (Rich Internet Applications Services) that automatically generate server client-side executable objects.
- SampleCRM has been added — an example of an open application implementing a working CRM system for organizing interaction with clients in the enterprise and ensuring the operation of the sales service.
- The ability to create custom interface layouts and use separately supplied UI element sets, such as Telerik UI for Silverlight, has been added.
- The performance of the simulator has been significantly improved (up to 10 times), and debugging capabilities have been expanded.
Future plans include providing a visual design environment that allows for the creation of XAML interfaces in WYSIWYG mode, support for WPF, LightSwitch, and F#, and enhancing integration with the VS Code editor. Based on OpenSilver, the XR# framework is also being developed for using .NET and XAML in the creation of 3D applications and augmented or virtual reality systems.
Source: opennet.ru
