MVC FAQ

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC enables developers comfortable with the ASP.NET MVC framework to easily incorporate and configure Kendo UI via familiar server-side programming instead of relying solely on manual HTML and JavaScript. Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC adds both extra functionality to the existing Kendo UI libraries (such as server-side rendering, grid server binding, data annotations support, etc.), and it does make it easier for developers to use Kendo UI with ASP.NET MVC.

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC includes Kendo UI Complete (Web + DataViz + Mobile JavaScript libraries) plus .NET wrappers, specifically designed to be used with the ASP.NET MVC framework from Microsoft.

In its current version Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC contains server wrappers for the Kendo UI Web and DataViz widgets. 

Kendo UI is a framework with everything you need to build sites and mobile apps with HTML and JavaScript. It has no dependencies on a specific server-side technology, making it universally usable by any web developer. In fact, Kendo UI can be used in apps with no server-side components, making it ideal for offline and mobile HTML5 apps.

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC builds on the underlying Kendo UI client-side framework to provide server-side helpers for ASP.NET MVC developers. Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC cannot be used without the Kendo UI client-side libraries, and as such it is a super-set of the core Kendo UI features.

Yes, you can use Kendo UI (Web, DataViz, and Mobile) in ASP.NET MVC applications without the MVC server wrappers. This can be done by simply adding references to the Kendo UI JavaScript and CSS resources and working with the Kendo UI JavaScript API directly.

However, if you rely on core functionality exposed in the ASP.NET MVC framework (action methods, server and client validation, server data connectivity and handling, view engines, etc.) and you want to simplify your adoption of Kendo UI in this environment, we recommend using Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC.

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC is the next generation ASP.NET MVC product from Telerik, designed to ultimately replace the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC.  While both products have shared objectives, Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC has two main advantages over the classic Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC:

1. Device reach with HTML5 and JavaScript: Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC gives you the ability to target both desktop and mobile devices using the cross-platform power of modern HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript.
2. Modularity: With Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC you can leverage the client and server pieces independently, or together, depending on your preferences or project requirements. This cannot be done with Telerik Extensions.

The first official release of Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC was shipped on July 11th 2012. It contains all core functionality and components available in the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC, and even exceed the capabilities of today's Telerik MVC Extension. Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC will be actively developed going forward, adding more functionality and by far surpassing the Telerik Extensions.

Your feedback for Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC can help shape the future versions of the product. Feel free to share feedback in our public forums and on our User Voice portal.

Telerik remains committed to providing the best tools in the industry for ASP.NET MVC developers. To that end, Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC will enter a maintenance phase following the Telerik DevTools Q2 2012 release. The Q2 2012 release contains new features and updates for the existing Telerik Extensions.

After the Q2 2012 release, the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC will receive 3 releases over the next year - consisting primarily of bug fixes and minor enhancements - before development is discontinued right after Q2 2013.

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC is intended to be the successor of Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC and is recommended for new ASP.NET MVC development. The introduction of Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC compliments and enhances Telerik’s ability to deliver more value to ASP.NET MVC developers.

Absolutely! You can easily mix Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC and Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC in the same project and on the same page, if needed, and this will not lead to any issues or conflicts. Our long-term recommendation, however, is to use only one set of components in your project, but the two can be used side-by-side as you transition to Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC in your own applications.

We will provide detailed guidance for both side-by-side usage and complete transition from the Telerik Extensions to Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC with the official release.

For new ASP.NET MVC development, we recommend using Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC as the suite will be actively developed and supported for the foreseeable future.

Yes, if you decide to convert projects using the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC to use the Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC wrappers, Telerik will provide detailed guidance and professional support.

Comprehensive migration path from Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC for Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC is outlined as part of the Kendo UI docs, and in blog posts elaborating on this subject (posted both on kendoui.com and telerik.com). The documentation resource above will be further updated down the road with more information facilitating the migration.

Moreover, with the official release, Kendo UI will provide a complete set of themes that identically match the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC. Using these themes, developers will be able to use Kendo UI and Telerik Extensions side-by-side without any visual differences. This will help ease the transition process without disrupting users.

Yes, if you own a license for the Telerik Extensions for ASP.NET MVC, you will receive a matching license for Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC wrappers within 24 hours after the official release in July. This license will be complimentary and will be granted for a period of 1 year from the date of the first Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC RTM release.

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC is included in all three Telerik Collections (DevCraft UI Edition, Complete and Ultimate). This means that if you own a license for any of these collections, you receive Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC license as part of them free of charge, for the period of your Telerik Collection subscription.

Individual Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC licenses are available on the kendoui.com website.

Kendo UI Complete for ASP.NET MVC is offered with royalty-free commercial license. For more information on the licensing model, please visit this page.