XAML - Building Graphical Interfaces

XAML "Extensible Application Markup Language", is a XML format dedicated for graphical user interface creating, editing and reusing. This is a Microsoft product and requires the .NET environment.

XAML features

• The XML code is compiled to intermediate code.
• Tags and properties of XAML have a direct counterpart in the .NET library as embedded classes and attributes.
• Uses vectorial graphical images.
• Presenting properties are a part of the language (unlike XUL that uses the CSS). Easier to write but harder to modify.
• Ability to use .NET classes from XAML.
• Ability to embed C# code into XAML with the "code" tag. (XUL uses JavaScript).
• Events (as mouse clic) are properties of tags, and tags are widgets.

Why to use XAML?

XAML eases to create, edit and reuse graphical user interfaces for desktop and Web applications.
Windows Vista uses XAML for its graphical interface. The Silverlight plug-in for Web interfaces makes use of XAML.

Sites and tools

• Overview
  Microsoft XAML overview.
• Silverlight tutorial
  Tutorial with examples.
• Moonlight.
  The open source version of Silverlight running under Mono and Linux.
• United XAML
  Open Source XAML Alternatives
• Comparison
  User interface markup languages compared.
• Silverlight.
  Description of the cross-browser runtime and SDK for building RIA application using XAML. Links to resources.
• Download Silverlight
  Plugin by Microsoft for running graphical applications in a browser, using XAML.

Sample code

<Page xmlns="">
  <TextBlock>
     Hello, World!
  </TextBlock>
</Page>

<button 
   Background="Gray" 
   FontSize="18pt" 
   Click="OnClick">
    Submit
</button>