Foundations of WPF: An Introduction to Windows Presentation Foundation (Foundations)

By Laurence Moroney

Windows Presentation Foundations (WPF), formerly code-named Avalon, is part of a suite of new technologies collectively known as 'The WinFX stack'. This suite, coupled with new ancillary technologies such as XAML and LINQ provides a powerful addition to the .NET 2.0 Framework for creating applications for Windows Vista, and WinFX-enabled Windows XP computers. These technologies have been eagerly awaited, and demand for them is going to be very high within the Windows programming community. This book deals exclusively with WPF, explaining what it is, how it can be used and how it fits into the wider picture of new WinFX technologies. Readers get quickly up to speed with new coding techniques and processes needed for successful WPF coding, then receive a thorough practical grounding in how the technologies can be used. By the end of the book readers will be creating WPF-enabled applications for themselves.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590597605
• ISBN13: 9781590597606
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Apress
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful WPF resource

I didn't even know Laurence's book was released when I found it searching for WPF books. I ordered it and have been working with it for 4 days now. It's a definite keeper. The book is 10 chapters long and 315 pages including indexes and tables. Chapter 1 does the obligatory "Introduction" to the technology. Nothing groundbreaking here. Chapter 2 continues and provides a good intro and background. Chapter 3 is where the rubber hits the road and it goes through building your first WPF application. It's a simple app but serves as a great intro application. Chapter 4 covers "Building a Connected WPF Application". It's a superb discusson and again, although the app isn't overly complex, it gives you everything you need to build a complex 'real world' application. I've spent most of my time on CHapter 4, trying to come up with my own scenarios and using WCF to get my data. Chapter 5 - Layout controls. This chapter is a lot more involved than many of the other ones but when you're through with it, you'll know layout inside and out. Chapter 6 gets into XAML controls. This is the heart of WPF and it's explained in plenty of detail without overdoing it Chapter 7 goes into graphics and media. To be honest, I haven't spent a lot of time on this chapter, just breezed through it so I don't have a lot to say about it. Chapter 8 goes into animation and while related to the Chapter 7 content, animation is critical to making compelling WPF apps. I found this chapter particularly useful. Chapter 9 goes into 3d graphics, again, a centerpiece to compelling UI's with WPF. Priceless. Chapter 10 goes into distributing your WPF apps and well, it's a very nice touch. Few things are more frustrating than developing an app when you're learning and not being able to get it to deply correctly. I've done 3 apps so far and had 0 problems getting them deployed. I've been a big fan of Moroney's books for a while now and this book doesn't disappoint.