Databinding is key, key, key in Silverlight. Additionally, it’s key. No, really. The basic idea is that we don’t want to write code that transfers data between the objects representing data in your program and the UI controls presenting that data to the user. If you’re not using Databinding, keeping UI controls and the data separate in your Silverlight applications, then the chances are you’re doing it wrong ;-)

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The ability to apply style to user interface elements is something that we’re familiar with from HTML/CSS. Silverlight has some similar mechanisms for applying groups of common properties to parts (or the whole) of your user interface. In this video, we’re going to dive into styling in Silverlight.

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Silverlight lays out user interface elements in Panels with various capabilities ranging from fixed, pixel-based layout through to flexible, fluid designs. You can make use of the existing layout mechanisms or build your own Panels to supplement what’s available. Let’s take a look at what’s involved..

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XAML is a key part of Silverlight development – it allows you to declaratively define your user interface and it makes it easy for tools such as Visual Studio and Expression Blend to share that UI definition. In this video we take a look at some of the key features of XAML that you’ll encounter whilst working with Silverlight and also a little around how XAML ‘works’ in your Silverlight applications.

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Silverlight applications are simple in that there’s an HTML page that launches the plug-in and a packaging file format (XAP) for the code and resources themselves. Here, we take a quick look at how those applications are packaged and how we go from HTML page to running Silverlight code on the screen and also talk a little around how to include your own class libraries and resources such as images, videos, etc.

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Part two of our Silverlight Introduction tutorial. In this screencast, Mike shows you how to save your walking routes to disk, and how to improve your app’s design using Expression Blend.

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ActiveDen aren’t the only ones broadening their horizons. Today sees the beginning of regular Microsoft Silverlight content being published on Activetuts+ and I’m thrilled to say we have Silverlight Evangelist Mike Taulty on board to help us meet demand!

This is the first of two screencasts (with the second coming tomorrow) demonstrating how to build a simple Silverlight 4 map application, using Visual Studio and the C# programming language. You’ll get a decent overview of the Silverlight workflow, and learn what advantages it has over …similar technologies.

Go on – check it out and let us know what you think!

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