Microsoft Pre-Releases "Avalon" and "Indigo" Beta 1 RC

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Thanks velkymx for this submission in Back Page News. Microsoft has released it's Beta 1 RC (Release Candidate) of Indigo and Avalon.
Indigo is the codename for Microsoft’s unified programming model for building connected systems and Avalon is the code name for Microsoft's unified presentation subsystem for Windows, which will be behind the new Graphical User Interface of Windows Codenamed Longhorn, that is scheduled to release in 2006.

Indigo and Avalon are the codenames for two strategic developer technologies that Microsoft plans to ship in 2006 as part of the Windows "Longhorn" operating system. In addition, Microsoft is making these technologies available on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The Indigo and Avalon Community Technology Preview (CTP) enables developers to experiment with early builds of these technologies, get acquainted with the development experience, and provide Microsoft with feedback.

Download: Avalon & Indigo Beta 1 RC 208MB (iso image)

Download: Avalon & Indigo Software Developers Kit (SDK) 351MB (iso image)

View: More Information & Web install @ Microsoft Downloads

Indigo is the codename for Microsoft’s unified programming model for building connected systems. It extends the .NET Framework 2.0 with additional APIs for building secure, reliable, transacted Web services that interoperate with non-Microsoft platforms and integrate with existing investments. By combining the functionality of existing Microsoft distributed application technologies (ASMX, .NET Remoting, .NET Enterprise Services, Web Services Enhancements, and System.Messaging), Indigo delivers a single development framework that improves developer productivity and reduces organizations’ time to market.

Avalon is the code name for Microsoft's unified presentation subsystem for Windows. It consists of a display engine and a managed-code framework. Avalon unifies how Windows creates, displays, and manipulates documents, media, and user interface. This enables developers and designers to create visually-stunning, differentiated user experiences that improve customer connection. When delivered, Avalon will become Microsoft's strategic user interface (UI) technology.

#1 Larney on 24 May 2005 - 12:13

Nice, cheers for the news

(1 reply) #2 chrischua83 on 24 May 2005 - 12:39

Sorry, i exactly dunno this for software developer or for nomal window user?

#2.1 lester_kun on 24 May 2005 - 12:42

It's mor for software developers. But the idea is to create software for the end-user with this.

(5 replies) #3 ThunderRiver on 24 May 2005 - 12:44

You know.. this news DOES NOT answer the main question. Does it work with current Visual Studio.NET 2005 Beta 2? If not, forget it.

#3.1 ThunderRiver on 24 May 2005 - 12:45

Nevermind, NeoWin should have posted something like
Supported Visual Studio tool set: Beta2 release of Visual Studio 2005

#3.2 hansonfan on 24 May 2005 - 13:04

It won't install if you have VS 2005 beta installed, cause It wants to install .NET Framework 2 beta

#3.3 ThunderRiver on 24 May 2005 - 13:37

So how in the world are you going to program with it? That does not make any sense to me with what you just said.

Update: It installs successfully with Beta 2 of Visual Studio.NET 2005 installed

Last edited by 656 on 24 May 2005 - 14:16

#3.4 Jugalator on 25 May 2005 - 16:43

Yes, that's the best part with this CTP -- it's designed for the most current release of VS .NET 2005 Beta 2, .NET Framework 2.0 Beta 2, and Express Editions if you fancy those.

#3.5 Help on 25 May 2005 - 19:03

QUOTE

I thought you need .net framework 2 beta to install VS 2005 beta?

(8 replies) #4 corrald on 24 May 2005 - 13:44

WIll this change my gui in XP with the cool updated stuff from Longhorn?

#4.1 sphbecker on 24 May 2005 - 14:00

No, it only installs the APIs. You would need a program written for Avalon to see the differance.

#4.2 corrald on 24 May 2005 - 14:14

Thanks!

#4.3 mahir on 24 May 2005 - 14:32

so by installing this 208mb download i am not going to get any funky effects?
no transparency?

#4.4 Cube on 24 May 2005 - 16:35

guess not dude

#4.5 Jason on 24 May 2005 - 16:55

You will never see Avalon effects on XP this just allows Avalon programs to work with XP / 2003.

#4.6 Shadow Dragon on 24 May 2005 - 17:41

Well, I wouldn't say never since they said that they would release versions for both XP and Longhorn

#4.7 Jason on 24 May 2005 - 17:49

XP will not get the Longhorn interface or run programs with the same look EVER guarenteed.

#4.8 sphbecker on 24 May 2005 - 19:50

That is correct. All MS is doing for XP/2003 is giving them program compatibility with Longhorn ara programs (using WinFX). When WinFX (Avalon, Indigo and someday WinFS) are added to XP it will not be something the user will see. The goal is to allow software writers to start writing new WinFX software without having to worry about XP users not being able to use it.

The basic idea is that a WinFX program would normally say “requires Longhorn”, but now they can just say "requires XP w/ SP3". This means that we should expect to start seeing programs use the power of Longhorn long before XP has been phased out.

(4 replies) #5 TheSarge on 24 May 2005 - 17:36

So, if it's gonna mean didly to an XP user, why get it?
Unless you want to program for Longhorn, just ignore this news.

#5.1 MrMobi on 24 May 2005 - 18:46

i thought that would have been slightly obvious, genius.

#5.2 sphbecker on 24 May 2005 - 19:54

It will mean something once Longhorn is out. That means that programs which would normaly be Longhorn only will now run on your system. I expect to see this included in SP3 so that a large number of users will install it. The idea is to allow software writers to start making Longhorn ara software without having to worry about the large XP base not being compatible.

#5.3 weenur on 24 May 2005 - 20:22

Actually, it means something now to software developers as Avalon and Indigo are going to be available to XP anyhow. It brings a declarative UI language to the table, and a unified messaging system.

One of the goals in programming is to decouple UI from logic, and Avalon's intent is to enable that completely.

#5.4 sphbecker on 25 May 2005 - 14:35

Well yes, but until this platform is out of beta (about the same time Longhorn comes out) it doesn't really mean anything to the avrage user.

(1 reply) #6 chrischua83 on 25 May 2005 - 02:37

so any way to get LH like GUI????? with this news?

#6.1 Jason on 25 May 2005 - 07:23

Never.

#7 Jugalator on 25 May 2005 - 16:50

Hm, time to format my lab partition, install Windows and this thing again maybe

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