Hi all,

Microsoft released Silverlight 5 first beta (you can download it from here).

Unfortunately it has not so many futures as we probably expected to get in this first drop of Silverlight 5.

This build of the Silverlight 5 includes next top futures:

• XAML Debugging with breakpoints for binding debugging
• Implicit data templates for easy UI reuse
• Double (and multi) click support
• GPU-accelerated XNA-compatible 3D and immediate-mode 2D API
• Low-latency sound effects and WAV support
• Real operating system windows and multi-display support
• Significant performance improvements, fixes and much more

Most of these futures could be used only in Silverlight 5 applications, but not the first one :)

But it's amazing that by installing Silverlight 5 tools for Visual Studio we can get XAML Debugging (Binding Debugging) not only for Silverlight 5 applications but also for Silverlight 4 applications!

Let's try it:

The goal is to build Silverlight 4 based application and try Binding Debugging in it. After we make sure that binding debugging work correctly we will try to run our application on PC which has only Silverlight 4 installed.

1. Create Silverlight 4 application

Let's create Silverlight 4 based application first. Select Silverlight 4 in Silverlight Version combobox:

2. Test Binding Debug

Now let's create some class to which we will bind to and set DataContext of our form:

In xaml we will use simple <Textblock /> to display text stored in SomeString property of the Data class.

Ok, now we all set to start testing Binding Debug.

Place a caret inside binding element and hit F9 to set a break point.

Now start application and see that debugger is able to stop on break point and you could see binding details in Locals window:

Ok, so we are able to use Binding Debugging even with Silverlight 4 applications.

Update: you still can debug Binding in XAML even if your application is built using Silverlight 4 tools only! Try to lunch any application which you have built before installing Silverlight 5 tools and see that you can place a break point in XAML and debugger can stop on that break point and show binding details for you :)

Are you still waiting for Microsoft to release Silverlight 4 for Visual Studio 2010 RC?

I'm not anymore :)

You could completely use Silverlight 4 bits for VS 2010 Beta 2 with VS 2010 RC. Alex Sorokoletov has found how to install Silverlight 4 on VS 2010 RC.

There is no magic and steps are simple as One, Two, Tree:

1. Download Silverlight 4 Tools For VS 2010 Beta 2
2. Run installation. The dialog window saying what Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 should be installed will appear. Don’t hit the cancel button!
3. Locate folder named like ‘bfb0032a835647b79718f26ba81d3392’ on root of some of your hard drives. And copy it’s content to some other location.
4. Open ParameterInfo.xml and comment out <BlockIf DisplayText="Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 ..."> section (it is placed on lines 13-41)
5. Now you are ready to SPInstaller.exe to install Silverlight 4 Tools
6. One additional step is required to force Visual Studio to use Silverlight 4 instead of Silverlight 3 for visual designers. To do it open regedit and search for DesignerPlatforms. Under this key go to Silverlight and change SilverlightHost value to ‘4.0’.

You should be happy now :)

If you need RIA services then load patched Microsoft.RiaServices.Tools.dll assembly and copy it to ‘c:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\RIA Services\v1.0\Libraries\Server’ folder.

And then open GAC management console by [Win+R] -> assembly ->[Enter]. Remove old one assembly and add new one.

Restart Visual Studio and you are done.

Thanks for Alex!

If you can’t attach the debugger to a Silverlight application opened in new browser window using HtmlPage.Window.Navigate method then do the following:

1. Go to Debug –> Attach to Process
2. In Attach to Process dialog select process which host Silverlight application
3. Click on “Select…” button under “Attach to:” section
4. In Select Code Type window select “Debug this code type” option and uncheck all checkboxes except Silverlight
5. Click OK –> Attach

Uhh, it's a hot day: first the visual studio 2010 beta 2 has came out and now JetBrains released first public available build of the ReSharper 5.0 :)

Here is download page: http://www.jetbrains.net/confluence/display/ReSharper/ReSharper+5.0+Nightly+Builds

What's New in ReSharper 5.0

• External Sources
• Structured Patterns
• Project Refactorings
• Call and Value Tracking
• Internationalization
• Visual Studio 2010 support (coming soon)
• ASP.NET markup support
• ASP.NET MVC support
• Intellisense improvements
• Bookmarks
• Inspect project/folder
• Upgrade-to-LINQ analysis
• Native NUnit support
• Xml Formatting

Here you could find more info about R# 5.0 futures: ReSharper 5.0 Overview