1. What is WCF?
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WCF (Windows Communication Foundation), which has code-named Indigo, is a technology by which pieces of software can communicate with one another. WCF consists of several new sets of classes added to the newer version it which enhances the power of the WCF. The WCF has been released concurrently with the Windows Vista operating system in the second half of 2006, as part of a package called WinFX.
2. Why WCF required?
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It gives the feature of Web services as well as .Net Remoting. Looking into core - Windows Communication Foundation provides a software factory template for software communication, consisting of a modeling language called the Service Model, and a programming framework called the Channel Layer. One can configure the endpoints defined by an address, a binding, and a contract just by using configuration file.
3. The key components?
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There are three Pillar of WCF: -
1. Productivity: - When we say productivity, we are talking about bringing together the various technologies available today for building distributed applications. It’s importance: -
- Reduce complexity by allowing us to focus on single programming model rather than learn multiple programming models.
- It allow us to use single programming model for building distributed application that communicate with one another on single machine, across multiple machines, and across the internet.
2. Interoperability and Integration:- It means that WCF enables us to build services that speak advance web services protocols(WS-*), enabling your application to communicate with other WS-* compliant services running on other platform. It’s importance: -
-The ability to communicate with application running on other platforms provides you with the flexibility you need when working in heterogeneous environment.
3. Service Orientated Development: - WCF uses attribute based programming to Define your services; you can dramatically reduce the amount of code you write To build secure, reliable service. It enables us to develop loosely coupled service And config based communication.
What we need to Start
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Step 1] Install .NET framework 3.0
You can download the 3.0 version of the .NET framework from the following link
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=10CC340B-F857-4A14-83F5-25634C3BF043&displaylang=en
Step 2] Install Microsoft SDK for .NET 3.0
You can download the 3.0 .NET SDK from the following link
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C2B1E300-F358-4523-B479-F53D234CDCCF&displaylang=en
Step 3] Install Visual Studio CTP Extensions for .NET Framework 3.0
You can download the Extensions ( WCF and WPF ) for .NET 3.0 from the following link
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F54F5537-CC86-4BF5-AE44-F5A1E805680D&displaylang=en
These 3 steps take care of the necessary software requirements that are needed to run WCF on your machine.
I Will try to cover more about the WCF programming and developing secure services in next Articles.
I hope it will help you to get a little knowledge about the WCF.
Your comments and questions are welcome.