Enterprise Library 4.0 Released
Enterprise Library is a collection of reusable software components (application blocks) designed to assist software developers with common enterprise development challenges (such as logging, validation, caching, exception handling, and many others). Application blocks are a type of guidance encapsulating Microsoft recommended development practices; they are provided as source code plus documentation that can be used "as is," extended, or modified by developers to use on complex, enterprise-level line-of-business development projects.
What's New in v4.0?
This release of Enterprise Library includes the following:
– Integration with the Unity Application Block
– Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) 2.0 support and improved instrumentation
– Performance improvements (particularly, in the Logging Application Block)
– Pluggable Cache Managers
– Visual Studio 2008 support
– Bug fixes
Note: existing public APIs (v3.1) are still supported.
The Application Block Software Factory and the Strong Naming Guidance Package are not included in this release but are available as a separate download. Thus, there is no longer a dependency on Guidance Automation Extensions (GAX).
For the detailed list of all changes, see About This Release of Enterprise Library.
If you are new to the Enterprise Library:
− read the Introduction to the Enterprise Library;
− download, compile and run the QuickStart samples—study the code;
− read through the related QuickStart Walkthroughs and “Key Scenarios” sections of the documentation;
− practice the Hands-On Labs;
− join the webcast in June 2008 (the exact date will be announced on the Enterprise Library landing page).
If you already know and love the Enterprise Library:
− check out the change log for this release;
− upgrade to V4.0—no code change is required—simply update the references to the corresponding application block assemblies and to the common assemblies;
− download the updated QuickStarts and run through the Unity-integrated examples to get the flavor of new dependency injection style of using the Enterprise Library;
− join the webcast in June 2008 (the exact date will be announced on the Enterprise Library landing page).