Silverlight applications had been in my web development since the first alpha release. In 2007, Microsoft introduced Silverlight as a cross-platform, browser-based runtime for rich internet applications (RIAs).

The technology was touted as a competitor to Adobe Flash and JavaFX. However, Silverlight failed to gain traction in the market and was ultimately discontinued by Microsoft in 2012.

What were the reasons Silverlight could not succeed despite heavy backing ? Let us find out !

What was Microsoft Silverlight?

The Silverlight framework was designed by Microsoft for writing and running rich web applications. Silverlight was a cross-platform, cross-browser, and cross-device plug-in for delivering media and interactive applications on the Web. Silverlight enabled developers to create expressive applications that deliver a high-quality user experience (UX).

Silverlight offered a flexible programming model that supported a wide range of development scenarios, including: traditional web applications, Rich Internet Applications (RIAs), hybrid web/desktop applications, and mobile applications. In addition, Silverlight provides a powerful set of tools for creating stunning visual effects and animation.

Silverlight was built on top of the .NET Framework, which provided developers with a rich set of class libraries and APIs for building sophisticated applications. The .NET Framework also enabled developers to easily integrate with existing code and systems.

Launched to compete with Adobe Flash

Silverlight was a browser-friendly subset of Windows Presentation Foundation. It is a visually rich platform for application development, built on XAML/.NET.

It was created to compete with Flash and offer a stronger development framework/language. Silverlight was designed for programmers who want to create pretty things, while Flash was for developers who wanted programming skills.

Why did Silverlight fail?

In May of 2012, Microsoft announced that it would be discontinuing its development of Silverlight, a software application used for the creation and delivery of Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) and media experiences on the Web. This news came as a surprise to many in the website development service provider and learners community who had been using Silverlight to create interactive applications and content for websites. So what caused Microsoft to abandon this once promising technology?

There are a few possible explanations for why Silverlight failed to gain widespread adoption. Firstly, Silverlight was a plugin technology, which meant that users had to download and install an additional piece of software in order to view Silverlight-based content. In an era where users are increasingly accustomed to seamless, integrated experiences, having to install a separate plugin was seen as a barrier to entry for many potential users.

Another primary reasons for its failure was lack of support from Microsoft itself. The company did not invest enough in marketing or developer outreach, and as a result, few people were aware of the technology. Furthermore, when problems arose, there was no one to turn to for help; Microsoft had effectively abandoned Silverlight. This lack of support made it difficult for developers to justify using Silverlight over other technologies, and ultimately led to its downfall.

The final and most significant factor was the competition. Flash was the dominant player in the RIA market when Silverlight was introduced. Flash had been around for over a decade and had a strong foothold in the market. Adobe also had a well-established ecosystem of tools and developers. In contrast, Silverlight was a late entrant with few tooling and development resources.

Not to mention, JavaFX was another competitor to Silverlight. Although JavaFX never gained widespread adoption, it did have support from Oracle (the company that owns Java).

Lessons for developers from failure of Silverlight

As a web developer, it's important to keep your skills and knowledge up to date in order to avoid becoming obsolete. There are always new web technologies and development approaches emerging, so it's important to stay on top of the latest trends.

Failing to do so can make you less competitive in the job market and limit your career growth potential. Additionally, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with the pace of change if you're using outdated tools and techniques.

So how can you make sure you don't fall behind? One way is to attend conferences and meetups related to web development. These can be great resources for learning about new technologies and developments. You can also stay up to date by reading blogs and articles written by experts in the field.