Some applications you build may not require the advanced functionality of the Web ADF. In addition, traditional server-based hybrid (server-client) applications may limit the user experience to what's solely available within a browser. To enhance the user experience with a lightweight client solution you can leverage Rich Internet applications (RIAs). RIAs are hosted on a Web server, downloaded to a client, and run within a browser via a plug-in. Typcially an RIA consumes data from remote Web services, includes logic to consolidate and process the data, and ultimately provides the end user with an enhanced presentation environment to visualize and interact with the data. ESRI provides two APIs built on these RIA industry standard platforms:
- ArcGIS API for MicrosoftSilverlight\WPF builds on the Microsoft® SilverlightTM plaform to provide a cross-browser, cross-platform development environment for building and delivering rich interactive applications for the Web. The API also includes assembles to support their use in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.
- ArcGIS API for Flex provides RIA mapping solutions for customers working with Adobe® FlexTM technology.
Both APIs enable you to integrate ArcGIS Server and Microsoft® Bing MapsTM services and capabilities in a rich Internet application. These APIs also use the ArcGIS Server REST API to access information about your services. ArcGIS Server deployments expose information about their services through a series of URLs for convenient access by developers. The service information and the corresponding URLs are also available through a visual interface called the Services Explorer.
Go to the online ArcGIS Resource Center to download and discover more about these products.