What's so great about XAML?

Question

I'm trying to figure out why XAML is so great. Anybody building WinForms in the past with Visual Studio I'm sure has used their drag n drop form editor. For WinForms it works great. So, why is introducing a mark up language behind it so great? I would only see the benefit if you didn't use Visual Studio.

Is it mainly because it would be the same for Windows and Web? If not, what am I missing? What does it deliver that you can't currently get?

Answer 1

The answer to that is too complex to answer here. It is going to open up entire new ways to interface with the end user. You will still be able to drag and drop if you choose but there will now be whole new ways to present controls to an end user instead of the same way its been done for 20 years. I suggest you pick up this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-WPF-2008-Prese...

its also out in C# and read it.

You are not being forced to use it. It's just another tool.

It's also about separating the jobs in a large project to people that specialize.

It will give graphic artist a way to work on a project instead of being relegated to doing mock ups.

If you are a one man operation its unlikely you will see a big reason to use it. In a team environment it will make a huge difference. You'll start seeing it show up in the next year being used in many commercial controls.

I can't even type everything it will do. Like I said you really need to read the book.