I went to the session on Microsoft Silverlight Analytics Framework (MSAF) today while here at MIX 2010. It was a great walk through the features, ideas, and what the end goal is. Michael Scherotter did a great job of lining up the ideas, intentions, and the functional ideas behind the framework. The framework is built around the Silverlight Behaviors. If you aren't sure what behaviors are, check out these entries from Nikhilk.net Silverlight Behaviors, Silverlight 3 Drag Behavior, An Introduction to Behaviors, Triggers, and Actions, and of course the MSDN Documentation on the matter. Some of the key features of the framework is to support out-of-browser scenarios, which works perfectly with out Webtrends DX Web Services. Offline scenarios, which again, we have worked toward supporting at Webtrends DC Web Services via caching and other criteria as needed. Another feature that I was really stoked about is the Microsoft Expression Blend integration that removes the need for coding, thus simplifying the addition of analytics components based on events or other actions within a Silverlight Application. This framework also easily supports A/B Testing (again, something we do quit a bit of at Webtrends with Webtrends Optimize. The last thing I really wanted to point out was the control support that this framework has support in already from Telerik RadControls, Smooth Streaming Media Element, and Microsoft Silverlight Media Framework Player 1.0. These are implemented with behaviors and handlers exposed via MEF (Managed Extensibility Framework). All in all, great second day, great analytics framework for Silverlight, and great presentation. Until tomorrow, adieu. For this original entry and all sorts of other technical gibberish I write, check out my other blog Agilist Mercenary.
