Special Report: Smart client development

Special Report: Smart client development

Smart clients -- applications that connect users to centralized back-end servers and databases -- can be said to represent a blend of the traditional desktop client and the newer Web browser client. They can be as simple as an auto-format tool that determines city, state and country based on a zip code or as complex as a tiered information management system. In this special report, SearchVB.com highlights Atlas and other Microsoft tools for smart client development in the .NET Framework.

 

  NEWS: With Atlas toolkit, no wait for Ajax controls
With two releases in the last month, the Atlas Control Toolkit is giving developers Ajax controls for ASP.NET apps long before the Atlas is due for release. Soon developers will be able to submit their own controls as well.

 

  PODCAST: Mike Gunderloy on the pros and cons of Atlas
SearchVB.com's third podcast takes a look at Atlas, Microsoft's tool for blending Ajax and ASP.NET technologies. Atlas offers a large set of frameworks and class libraries, mainly so .NET folks need not become JavaScript experts overnight. However, contributing columnist Mike Gunderloy tells us, developers should keep a few things in mind before they rush headlong into Atlas.

 

  MINI-GUIDE: Visual Studio Tools for Applications
Not to be confused with Vista, Visual Studio Tools for Applications, or VSTA, represents the next generation of the much-loved Visual Basic for Applications. VSTA targets independent software vendors who build Office- and Windows-centric applications and is slated for release with Office 2007. This Mini-Guide offers an introduction to the technology and webcasts and tips to help you get started with VSTA.

 

  FEATURED TOPIC: SearchVB.com's smart client coverage
Tomorrow's applications must provide end users almost unlimited functionality without frustrating them. Here we provide news, tips and webcasts that cover the challenge of developing "smart client" apps, including an updated article about Ray Ozzie's latest project, the Live Clipboard.

 

  NEWS: Windows Developments: Product news, May 2006
Windows Developments ia a monthly sampling of recent products and product news in the ever-active Windows space. This month's offerings including charting software and application management tools.

 

  REFERENCES: Learning Guides for help with smart clients

There's a lot to learn before getting started on a smart client application. These Learning Guides will point you to the right tools for the job, take you through the application development steps and give you lots of tips along the way.

 

 

This was first published in May 2006

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