Foreword

AS MICROSOFT DEVELOPED Silverlight versions 3 and 4, it enabled developers to create compelling business applications that were distributed and run in the browser with a rich, refreshing, and engaging experience. This technology was a natural addition to the SharePoint developer’s toolbox, as so many companies store business data within intranets and extranets on the SharePoint platform. With the release of SharePoint 2010, Microsoft made it easier to consume and integrate data stored within SharePoint into Silverlight applications with the client object model and a new RESTful service.

While many technologies (such as HTML 5) promise and deliver, to varying degrees of success, the ability to build rich business applications in the browser, Silverlight has a proven and mature track record. It is an obvious choice when building a new business application. SharePoint serves not only as a fantastic delivery mechanism, but the application can also leverage the vast amounts of business data that is stored in corporate SharePoint deployments.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to know and work with both Bob German and Paul Stubbs. Bob and I have worked on other book projects, and I’ve worked on numerous development projects with Paul. Both have solid, real-world experience and perspectives on the SharePoint platform and both also spent a considerable amount of time with Silverlight. They have presented many informative and engaging presentations at conferences and user groups, as well as written numerous articles on the subject. Who better to collaborate on the topic!

Most SharePoint development books only touch on the client object model and how to use the Silverlight implementation or the new ListData.svc RESTful service. If you are building a Silverlight business application, you need a good resource from some trusted names to deliver solid guidance on working with both Silverlight and SharePoint together.

The authors break the learning experience into three parts. Part 1 of the book focuses on getting you up-to-speed quickly on SharePoint and Silverlight development. Part 2 dives into the fundamentals and basics you need to know, such as working with the client object model, the REST service, web services, and external data (that which SharePoint is aware of but lives in another system). Part 3 kicks into high gear, teaching you how to leverage Silverlight to create sophisticated navigation controls, utilize the emerging and ever more important cloud, and even create custom field controls.

I can’t imagine two better people to collaborate and deliver a fantastic book on the subject of SharePoint 2010 and Silverlight. Consider this a must-have for your bookshelf...I do!

Andrew Connell
Co-Founder, Developer, Instructor, Speaker
Critical Path Training, LLC
www.CriticalPathTraining.com
August 2011