Silverlight Browser Ria

Efficiently Detecting the Silverlight Version in Your Browser

In the world of web technologies, knowing the specifics of the client’s environment is crucial for delivering a seamless experience. One common requirement is detecting the version of Silverlight installed in the user’s browser. This can be essential for ensuring compatibility with web applications. So, how can you efficiently and effectively identify the Silverlight version running on a browser? Let’s dive into the solution!

Understanding Silverlight Version Detection

Silverlight provides a way to determine its version through a function called IsVersionSupported. This function operates by accepting a version number and returning a boolean response, indicating whether the specified version is supported or not. It’s a straightforward method but incredibly effective for checking compatibility.

The IsVersionSupported Function

You can utilize the IsVersionSupported function in your code as follows:

if (slPlugin.isVersionSupported("2.0")) {
  alert("I haz some flavour of Silverlight 2");
}

This snippet checks if at least version 2.0 of Silverlight is installed. The beauty of this function is its flexibility. You can test for specific version numbers, including:

  • Major: Major version number
  • Minor: Minor version number
  • Build: Build number
  • Revision: Revision number

Checking Specific Builds

In scenarios where precise version tracking is necessary, you can also check for specific build numbers. For instance:

if (slPlugin.isVersionSupported("2.0.30523")) {
  alert("I haz Silverlight 2.0.30523, but could be any revision.");
}

This checks if the Silverlight build 2.0.30523 is present. Such specificity is particularly useful when your application requires a particular feature only available in certain builds.

Other Methods of Detection

While IsVersionSupported is the primary method for checking Silverlight versions, there are other approaches worth noting:

Using the Plugin Description in Firefox

In some browsers, like Firefox, you can access the Silverlight version through the plugin description with the following code:

alert(navigator.plugins["Silverlight Plug-In"].description);

This method can return a version string, such as '2.0.30523.8', showing the installed version on the user’s machine.

Brute Forcing Version Detection

Although not recommended for production environments due to performance concerns, you can technically brute-force request each version by iterating through all released version numbers. Some services, like BrowserHawk, utilize this technique to report the Silverlight version installed on a client’s machine.

Best Practices

When dealing with version detection, it’s essential to consider the following best practices:

  • Avoid Hardcoding: Instead of querying for specific versions, check for a minimum version to ensure compatibility across different environments.
  • Keep Up with Updates: As Silverlight evolves, the underlying methods for detection may also change.

Conclusion

Detecting the version of Silverlight running on a browser is crucial for maintaining compatibility and ensuring a smooth user experience. By employing the IsVersionSupported function and exploring alternative methods, you can gain insight into the Silverlight plugin available to your users. Adhere to best practices to enhance your application’s resilience and user satisfaction!

With this knowledge, you can now effectively manage Silverlight dependencies in your web applications, ensuring that you provide a consistent experience regardless of the user’s environment.