the death of silverlight, the triumph of html5, and the future of software development

The death of Silverlight The triumph of HTML5and the future of software

developmentRecognizing trends in software for fun and profit.

Silverlight is dying?!

“I’ve met people in the most remote areas of the world, living in straw huts without electricity or running water, who have mobile phones.”

-Nat Friedman, co-founder of Xamarin

The mobile computing explosion

“I've got a dual-core internet connected super-computer in my pocket.”

-Scott Hanselman

The mobile computing explosion

The mobile computing explosion makes web plugins

a tough sell

Silverlight can no longer be “WPF Everywhere”

Q. What’s wrong with this app?

A. Everything.

Silverlight is a technology of the gaps. And those gaps are shrinking.

“Silverlight is a technology of the gaps. And those gaps are shrinking.”

“Silverlight is a technology of the gaps. And those gaps are shrinking.™”

“Silverlight is a technology of the gaps. And those gaps are shrinking.™”

-Me, just now

Local Storage for client-side data

…and much more.

<audio> for music

<canvas> for graphics Web Sockets for real-time

communication

<video> for movies

Furthermore, the native web has evolved, and is

now super-awesome

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“For the future of the web, we need to get out of plugin prison.” -Vic Gundotra, Google VP of Engineering, Google IO conference

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“Plugins were created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. The mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where plugins fall short.”

-Steve Jobs, 2010

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“HTML5 lets web developers create advanced graphics, typography, animations and transitions without relying on third party browser plug-ins.”

-Steve Jobs, 2010

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“For the web to move forward, the Metro-style browser in Windows 8 is as HTML5-only as possible, and is plug-in free. The experience that plug-ins provide today is not a good match with Metro style browsing and the modern HTML5 web.”

-Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft President

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“We will no longer continue to develop Flash Player in the browser to work with new mobile devices. This will allow us to increase investment in HTML5, which is universally supported on major mobile devices.”

-Adobe press release, November 9th, 2011

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“Key components that would have allowed Silverlight to become a real cross-platform framework were cut from releases. Silverlight's fate was sealed when they started supporting Windows-only features in the plugin.”

-Miguel deIcaza, founder of Mono and Moonlight

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“Silverlight had a bright future, and that it could turn to fill an important void, not only for web development, but for desktop development in general. I am very sad that Microsoft strategy cut the air supply to Silverlight.”

-Miguel deIcaza, founder of Mono and Moonlight

The software world is moving away from web plugins like

Flash and Silverlight

“We’ve heard developers express concern about the long term future of Silverlight for Windows Phone. Please don’t panic; WinRT in Windows 8 Phone can be viewed as a direct evolution from today’s Silverlight.” -Larry Lieberman, Microsoft, Windows Phone Dev blog

What does this mean for Silverlight?

What does this mean for devs like us?

The death of web plug-ins

Move to the web:HTML5

Build proprietary apps:iOS

DroidWinRT

Why HTML5? It’s the present, it’s the future!

HTML5 and the native web is your best bet

It’s in demand!

It’s in demand!It will be around forever*!

Why HTML5? It’s the present, it’s the future!

HTML5 and the native web is your best bet

It’s in demand!It will be around forever*!It’s now part of humanity!

Why HTML5? It’s the present, it’s the future!

HTML5 and the native web is your best bet

It’s in demand!It will be around forever*!It’s now part of humanity!It’s off the chain!

Why HTML5? It’s the present, it’s the future!

HTML5 and the native web is your best bet

Apple doesn’t like your app? Doesn’t matter.

Microsoft has a problem with your content? Forget ‘em.

With HTML5 and the native web, you’re in control, not the big corporations.

RECAP

Web plugins are dead. HTML5 has triumphed.

The future of software?1. Proprietary, closed app stores

2. HTML5 and the native web

What trend should I bet on?HTML5 is on a rampage.

It’s gonna pwn everything.

Thank you!(Hope this has helped!)

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