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P&P: Web Client Software Factory Released

Web development in the enterprise just got significantly easier! Our Patterns and Practices group just released their Web Client Software Factory which address many of the most common areas I hear corporate web developers talk about.

If this sounds like it describes your next web development project, I would definitely check out these free add ons to VS and ASP.NET

  • They have complex page flows and workflows
  • They are developed by multiple collaborating development teams
  • They are composite applications which present information from multiple sources through an integrated user interface.
  • They can benefit from simpler deployment techniques (XCopy deployment)
  • They are composed of loosely coupled modules that can be independently deployed
  • They support online business transaction processing web sites

There is an amazing amount of content here, including:

  • Application Blocks and Libraries. The Composite Web Application Block, Page Flow Application Block and Object Container Data Source Control are included in the factory. The factory also uses Enterprise Library application blocks for security, exception management, logging, and data access.
  • Recipes. The software factory includes the Add View (with presenter) recipe and Add Page Flow recipe. Recipes automate procedures in How-to topics, either entirely or selected steps. They help developers complete routine tasks with minimal input.
  • Templates. The software factory includes the Solution template, Business Module template, Foundational Module template, and Page Flow template. Templates are skeletal application projects that are customized for each application. They can be used for many purposes, including creating initial solution structures and creating individual solution artifacts, such as project items.
  • Designers. The factory designers include page flow designer based on Workflow Foundation.
  • Reference implementation. A reference implementation provides an example of a realistic, finished product that the software factory helps developers build.
  • Architecture guidance and patterns. Architecture guidance and patterns help explain application design choices and the motivation for those choices.
  • How-to topics. These are documented step-by-step instructions that describe how to implement recommended practices in a given domain.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 19, 2007
    How does it play with AJAX? I would like to see the usage of WCSF along with AJAX - a compelling combination.

  • Anonymous
    January 19, 2007
    Via Brad Abrams (via Microsoft.com ): Web development in the enterprise just got significantly easier!

  • Anonymous
    January 19, 2007
    Just one i wanted to add, that no where in the  Web Client Software Factory download page they mention that you need to have .Net 3.0 & Guidance Automation Extensions installed on your computer. When you download these, then the installer will tell you you need to have VS professional Version (not the Express Version as some of us students have it). Should have mentioned this before otherwise i would not have downloaded 60 MB on a dial up connection.   Very frustrating !!!!    

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2007
    Does the Web Client Software Factory support VS Web Application Project? I installed the Factory days ago. It seems the template only generates Web Site, not Web Application.

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2007
    Web Client Software Factory Brad Abrams P&P Web Client Software Factory Released P&P(Pattern

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2007
    As the lead developer on the Web Client Software Factory, I'd like to point out that answers to or dialogs about a lot of the questions above can be found on our community site at CodePlex -- http://www.codeplex.com/websf

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2007
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 20, 2007
    I have to agree with Ali...the number of dependencies that are required for most of the factories is getting to be a little ridiculous...either spell out exactly what is needed to be installed first (with LINKS TO THEM), or include them in the installer. I recently tried to install the mobile factory...it took 5 tries before I finally had all the prereq's installed.