When Silverlight was released a few years ago, it practically became the white elephant for developers.

You know that it is there and you are very tempted to use it but you do not really know how to implement them in actual applications.

Although the first version of Silverlight have that Flash-like ability, it does not have the flexibility like flash and powerful client side coding compared to Ajax.

All you have is a programming application that could play a few videos with little to no interaction.

You should be tempted at first since, of course, this came from Microsoft and if there is anyone who wants to the leader, it should be this company. But Silverlight 1.0 did not live up to its name.

Fortunately, Microsoft was quick to realize this and they followed up the first version with a modified and more convincing version 1.1.This is probably where the real story starts for Silverlight. In this version, the interface is better and you have more options on how to implement your application.

But Microsoft wants to push it even further. The release of Silverlight 2.0 will make any developer realize the speed of the development of the programming language. Version 2.0 is now getting serious in enticing developers towards their court.

Silverlight 2.0 could now be used to build powerful RIA. Silverlight is now cross platform and should be able to implement a highly powerful application without any problem.

The interface for application development is now impressive although there are things you which to change, you will always have something to add and develop your application.

Adding Cloud Experience

Cloud computing has been a very hot topic for a few months now. Although it has been adopted by some software giants, cloud computing represents the next step of everyone’s experience of their computers and gadgets.

Microsoft has apparently caught up with the hype and are thinking bold about cloud computing.

This is where Silverlight 2.0 comes into picture. According to Steve Balmer, the company is planning to release an OS specifically built for cloud computing.

This is totally different from Windows 7 and might be released as a separate and usually experimental operating system.

Although Mr. Balmer did not say anything about Silverlight, you can be sure that Microsoft will be deeply tying up their upcoming operating system with Silverlight.

If cloud computing OS does come out from Microsoft, it could become one of the highly powerful OS that features development for RIA.

.Net Support

Aside from improved technology and the possibility of integrating Silverlight to cloud computing OS, developers would now have better options for development. Silverlight could now easily interact with .Net services.

Through .Net, developers will have more options on functions. The beauty of this interaction is that .Net could be used to support server side components while Silverlight could be used for cloud computing.

Microsoft is really pushing it hard to improve Silverlight. Only time will tell as to when will Silverlight become a serious competitor for Ajax and other programming application for RIAs.