Can I use Viewer to develop Source Code

DonFreeman

So, it appears we can develop a silverlight map project using the new ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight. However when the project is ready to go and is deployed, all we get is a compiled xap file. This means we cannot use the Viewer to rough out a project and then finish it using manual code editing techniques in Visual Studio. For example, suppose we wanted to replace the canned basemap with one we have developed ourself, or maybe we just have our own look and feel we would like to implement. Will this be possible, or am I correct that the viewer is useless if we want to do some of our own coding?

Thanks

DerekLaw

Hi Don,

Yes, the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight's application builder generates a compiled application and this is by design. The primary intent was to enable non-developers/novice website creators to easily create and deploy a Web mapping application OOTB. We've kept the underlying framework source code "closed" for several reasons:

1. Developers will only need to know the Viewer extensibility framework, instead of trying to understand the entire Viewer application�??s internals.
2. It greatly simplifies migration scenarios and thus will increase what Esri can do with upgrades moving forward. (I.e., we always know what the core of each Viewer is, thus we can account for it.)
3. For things developers need/want to do, we plan on supporting via the extensibility kit.
4. Supportability. With open source code, as soon as developers change one line of the source code, it becomes technically unsupported. Having the Viewer core be closed source avoids such issues. 

We promote and encourage developers to use the Silverlight Viewer application builder as a starting point to deploy Web mapping applications and they can extend/add additional capabilities via add-ins. This is why we've provided an extensibility kit. Please see this help topic: Extending the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight.

Regarding your specific comments:

... suppose we wanted to replace the canned basemap with one we have developed ourself ...

This is possible OOTB, please review this help topic Configuring basemaps.

... maybe we just have our own look and feel we would like to implement.

Again, this is possible, please review this help topic Creating a custom layout.

Hope this helps,