Is using Silverlight a hindrance for Startups?

I'm having a lot of difficulty choosing a web framework and/or programming languag开发者_开发知识库e for an idea, and of the programming knowledge I have, I'm the best with Silverlight/.NET

The web app itself would be in Silverlight presuming I go this route. From what I've read Silverlight has around a 65% install base but would it still be a hindrance?

Please note it's essentially an entire website, and the targeted audience are Students, Teachers, and Hobbyists

Also is the reliance on Microsoft a bad thing or even relevant?

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From what I've read Silverlight has around a 65% install base but would it still be a hindrance?

It really depends. If your target user is likely to be in that 65%, then no, there would be little or no hindrance.

If the target user is not in that 65%, or is the public at large, then it would depend on whether your application was compelling enough to convince the potential users in the 35% to install Silverlight.

This is a matter of balance on your part - try to measure the gain in productivity (from using the technology you know) vs. the cost of a different architecture and the cost of learning a new tech.

Also, remember, no technology has a 100% install base - even HTML. It's amazing, but there are still a lot of people running archaic browsers out there who will miss out unless you use the most bare-bones HTML possible...

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Although your familiarity with Silverlight will allow you to develop the application quickly, Silverlight is not installed on a large number of traditional computers. Furthermore Silverlight is not going to be visible on the majority of phone platforms that are available (I believe WP7 supports Silverlight, but thats the extent of it). Here I'd also note that most mac users don't have silverlight installed (although it is available to them) and no linux users have Silverlight (although they have the Moonlight equivalent).

So if you are trying to reach as large an audience as possible, I'd go with a HTML based solution. I'd even avoid flash because flash applications do not work on iOS devices.

However if your application really does need capabilities that are beyond what HTML5 can provide, then development in Silverlight may not be a bad idea.