Telerik has unveiled its new line of user interface (UI) extensions for Microsoft's ASP.NET MVC. Introduced as a Community Technology Preview (CTP), this release amplifies ASP.NET MVC functionality by delivering a server-based UI extension framework that integrates with client-side UI modules based on popular JavaScript library, jQuery.

These ASP.NET MVC extensions will be offered under the Microsoft Public License (MS-PL), the OSI-approved license used in the distribution of the ASP.NET MVC framework. Under this license, developers can freely use and redistribute the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC in all projects, both commercial and open source. A commercial license that includes support will also be available.

This first CTP of the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC lays the foundation for the new UI extension framework, and gives a peek at a number of UI components that leverage and build upon jQueryUI, including Accordion, Slider, Tab, DatePicker, and Progress Bar. A prologue to upcoming additions that are set to include more complex UI extensions, such as grids and menus, the preview highlights the company's novel implementation and unique product architecture.

"We are the first provider to ship a purpose-built UI suite that fully leverages the advantages of Microsoft's ASP.NET MVC framework," said Telerik's Vassil Terziev. "By developing native architecture from the ground up that is tailored specifically to the ASP.NET MVC environment, we avoid many of the pitfalls associated with non-native controls that have their roots in WebForms. Instead, we are providing a model that is perfectly mated to the MVC platform."

ASP.NET MVC is a Microsoft framework enabling developers to build standards-based web applications using the model-view-controller pattern. ASP.NET MVC encourages clear separation of concerns and allows developers to build testable web applications benefitting from complete developer control over the emitted HTML, ultimately creating better performing web sites.

Telerik's UI extensions provide control over rendered HTML. Using the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC's API makes it easy to add lightweight UI components to pages and integrate with MVC controllers. Designed to work with any ASP.NET MVC view engine, these UI extensions supposedly deliver optimum levels of productivity without sacrificing the pattern, practices, and guidance of ASP.NET MVC.