Microsoft AJAX and the roadmap!

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After the naming game for ASP.NET "Atlas" that was started a couple of weeks ago by Steven Smith, today the official naming and roadmap for ASP.NET "Atlas" has been announced. Scott Guthrie posted the official naming and roadmap for ASP.NET Atlas on his blog.

I will need the next couple of weeks to get used and use the new naming:

  • Microsoft AJAX Library:  The client-side JavaScript library (i.e., all the .js files) that works with any browser and also supports any server-side framework, not just ASP.NET.
  • ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions: The server-side functionality that seamlessly integrates with ASP.NET and uses the same programming model familiar to existing ASP.NET developers.
  • ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit: The set of free, shared source controls and components that currently form the "Atlas" Control Toolkit community project hosted on CodePlex.
  • Microsoft AJAX = Microsoft AJAX Library + ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions.

Check out Scott Guthrie's post for all details. Brian and Keith add some more insights to the naming and roadmap.

I think it's good that the official naming was announced today. It gives all of us a good signal that Microsoft is very serious about shipping a fully supported 1.0 release of "Atlas" that will be 100% cross-browser and cross-platform.
The team is working on Visual Studio “Orcas” which will have rich JavaScript intellisense, debugging and WYSIWYG designer support for the ASP.NET AJAX Extensions within Visual Studio and many other great features to take advantage of.

The renaming also means that all Microsoft AJAX related sessions should be renamed. Luckily enough the content doesn't change. Get used to some session titles like:

  • ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions: Networking Fundamentals using Web Services, Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
  • ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit: Creating Rich Client-Side Controls and Components
  • ASP.NET: Developer and Designer AJAX Bliss with Visual Studio and Expression
  • Building Compelling Microsoft AJAX Applications with Today's Tools
  • Power Microsoft AJAX Programming: Controls, Gadgets, Mash-ups, and more
  • Developing Rich Web Applications with Microsoft AJAX Library
  • AJAX Patterns with Microsoft AJAX
  • ASP.NET, AJAX and You: Introducing Microsoft AJAX
  • AJAX, ASP.NET, and You: All About Microsoft AJAX
  • "Scripting Microsoft AJAX Library": Deep Dive into Microsoft AJAX Library, Scripting & Debugging

I'll update all TechEd Developer session titles and abstracts to the new naming later this week.

Tags: ASP.NET Atlas, Microsoft AJAX, Tech Ed, Tech Ed: Developers