The NetShow Programming Model

NetShow is an open-standards-based platform that exposes functionality to developers through a variety of techniques. These include:

• The Component Object Model (COM) - The standard for building reliable, interoperable software components. COM is programming-language independent; however, this SDK concentrates on COM components (objects) implemented through Microsoft Visual C++® base classes.
  
  
• Automation (formerly called OLE Automation) - A software technology that implements it’s features primarily through the COM IDispatch interface. Exposing methods, properties, and events through Automation is supported by a host of programming environments, including Microsoft Visual Basic®, Visual C++, and Java applications.
  
  
• ActiveX controls - Fully compiled, self-contained software components that are ideal for Web development. ActiveX controls can be used to develop Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Java applications, or they can be inserted into HTML pages for Web-based applications. ActiveX controls are easy to manipulate using scripting languages such as Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) or Java Script (JScript).

Different NetShow components expose their functionality through different technologies. The following table shows the relationship between the NetShow components and their underlying technology: