Introduction to the architect's. Net 3.0 framework (1)

The latest version of Microsoft. NET,. NET Framework 3.0, opens new possibilities for developing the next-generation business solution software system. It is designed to improve productivity, reduce infrastructure complexity, and provide a consistent metadata system, making it easier to develop enterprise-level services, workflow solutions, and user experience software systems.

During my discussions with a large number of architects, I have heard that solution architects are very concerned about security, open standards, interoperability, service-oriented architectures, relationships between key technologies (such as Workflow Foundation and BizTalk) and productivity. In this article, I will introduce. Net 3.0 one by one based on the fields most interested in the architect community.

. Net versions

It has been almost six years since Microsoft launched the first version of the. NET Framework. 3.0 is the first framework released with the operating system. It is attached to every Windows Vista and supports Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003. Until. Net 3.0, each previous version of. NET Framework will be accompanied by a new common language runtime, which will be referred to as CLR later. However, this time, Microsoft did not modify the CLR in. NET Framework 3.0 (Note: It is Based on. NET 2.0 CLR.

Figure 1

Because. NET 2.0 and 3.0 share the same CLR, in. any program written in. NET 2.0 can run on. in net 3.0, this is an important and significant difference from previous versions. In terms of changes, for those who like algebraic equations, the relationship between them can be summarized into the following formula:

. Net 3.0 =. NET 2.0 + WCF + WPF + WCS + Wf

I will provide a definition for each abbreviation, but when you are confused about the relationship between. NET 2.0 and 3.0 at any time, just remember the above equation .. Net 3.0, one of its later philosophies is to provide some functionality to make the "infrastructure structure" part of the framework. It allows you to focus only on your key business issues.

. NET Framework 3.0 matches our customer requirements and verification areas through four key standards-based pillars to achieve the above goals. It also contains an important new language called XAML. XAML is an XML-based declarative language that defines objects and their attributes through XML, allowing customers to develop workflows (WF) and immersive user experience (WPF) in a declarative manner ). Let's take a look at the details of the key pillars in the. NET 3.0 framework.

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)

WCF allows you to build services by providing a standard-based framework and a combined architecture. The three key design concepts of WCF are interoperability, productivity, and service-oriented development.

Figure 2

Microsoft provides several message-layer channels and service model layer actions that can be easily added and deleted. You can also define your own custom instances. For example, you can write or purchase a custom ASCII encoder and insert it into the message layer as a reusable channel, it can be used by multiple systems. WCF can interoperate with existing investments and integrate and expand existing Microsoft Distributed System technologies, such as Enterprise Services and system. messaging, Microsoft. net remoting, asmx, and Web Services extensions (WSE ). This change predicts that you can use a single model to handle different types of application behavior, which will significantly reduce the complexity of application development. By supporting the WS-I basic profile and a large number of additional WS-* standards, WCF also provides interoperability with non-Microsoft applications.

Finally, from the perspective of productivity, using WCF to develop secure transactional network services will significantly improve productivity. You need to develop, generate, and maintain tens of thousands of lines of code to implement functions similar to WCF, but now it is provided to you as part of the basic framework. WCF has provided you with a primary core programming framework to cope with growing service-oriented development.

Windows workflow (WF)

Figure 3

Workflow Foundation is an enterprise-level workflow development framework and engine. For the first time, it directs declarative workflows to the mainstream. WF supports human, system, sequential, and State-machine workflows. It provides the basic runtime, flexible workflow control mechanism, long-running and stateful workflows, and transparency during runtime and design for users, and audit capability for rule compliance and record management processes.

Workflow Foundation allows you to define a workflow as a series of activities. Activities are the units of execution and can be easily reused and combined. A basic activity is a step in a workflow, and a combination activity can contain other activities. You can even add or delete activities when the workflow is already running, which gives you great flexibility in the face of changes. Workflow Foundation provides an out-of-the-box basic activity library and a framework that makes it easy for partners and customers to create custom activities.

In terms of creation method selection, you can use the pure XAML tag, tag to add code or pure code. Visual Studio 2005 designer for Workflow Foundation can be downloaded as a plug-in program. It provides a drag-and-drop method) design Interface, intuitive graphical tools, and integrated with the Properties window, debugging, and graphic annotation functions.

Figure 4

Many architects have asked me about the relationship between Workflow Foundation, BizTalk, Microsoft Office Sharepoint Server 2007 (MOSS 2007) and Windows SharePoint Services (WSS.

Workflow Foundation (WF) is developed by the same team of Microsoft's BizTalk workflow engine. It tends to be used by future versions of BizTalk Server.

WF provides a foundation for implementing most workflow scenarios between an application and multiple applications under specific circumstances. Biztalk allows you to automate your business processes, orchestrate processes that are a mixture of systems implemented by different technologies through adapters, and provides advanced business activity monitoring capabilities.

For Moss 2007 and WSS, moss 2007 is built on WF and uses WF as the basic function to provide additional functions and features. Windows SharePoint Services provides a subset of moss 2007 functions as an entry to add Windows server. In short, WSS provides simple document management and workflow capabilities.

Figure 5

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)

The Windows Presentation Foundation tries to bridge the gap between immersive user experiences common in the gaming and entertainment industries and static and difficult-to-use interfaces in the Business Software world. Using XAML, WPF allows you to develop the next-generation interface without having to become a graphic designer.

I suggest you go to a WPF application demonstration to understand what the next-generation user interface I mean. For example, you can view the top 15 most precious books in the British Library, including the manuscripts of Mozart and Da Vinci. This Reader is a WPF-based application that runs in Internet Explorer. It is called xbap (Extensible browser application) -- This is a technology used to replace ActiveX functions in browsers. The important difference between WPF is that it is not a final product or a wonderful rich interface, but a way to develop and maintain application code.

From the perspective of architecture, WPF maintains a very clear division by separating the graphic elements and business logic. A designer can use the expression product line and XAML to create views. developers can use Visual Studio, VB. NET, or C # To write code.

Recently, another technology that requires more attention is WPF everywhere (WPF/E), which is now officially called Silverlight. Remember that Silverlight is not part of the. NET 3.0 framework. Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in with its own runtime. It is used to develop next-generation Microsoft. Net-based multimedia programs and Web applications with rich interaction. You can find more information in http://www.microsoft.com/silverlightand view some demos.

Windows card spaces (WCS)

In today's world, everyone carries a large number of self-declarations and third-party identity identities. Examples of identity identities include driver's license, credit card, movie card, and other similar cards.

We provide the information controlled by ourselves to the requester to prove our identity. Windows card spaces extends the concept of user control to the digital world. The WCS creates an identity metadata system, which can significantly improve the way enterprise identity is managed within and between organizations. To understand its potential, a famous Microsoft critic pointed out that "this is one of the most important contributions to computer security since the emergence of encryption technology ".

In the digital world, an identity is expressed as an object (WHO), an identity requirement, and a security token (a digital representation of an object and a request ). The WCS uses self-declaration and identity hosting. A self-declared digital identity card can be used to log on to services such as Hotmail, the managed identity may be a credit card issued by a bank.

The following figure describes the protocols used to exchange information between different entities. In this example, the identity Provider can use Kerberos, X509, or a custom mechanism. Similarly, the forwarder can use SAML or HTTPS post to send a security token.

The WCS provides an overall framework for different identity management technologies to work together. At java one (the world's largest Java Conference), Sun and Microsoft made a joint topic to demonstrate the WS-* standard-based Interoperability Mechanism. I will post the link and toolkit for this demonstration to the blog I mentioned at the end of this article.

Figure 6

Conclusion

. Net 3.0 framework opens a new world with unlimited possibilities for architects and developers. It is designed to make it easier for you to develop, integrate, and maintain applications. Microsoft plans to continue implementing this concept in future. NET Framework versions to reduce the complexity of the Infrastructure structure and improve interoperability and standard support. For a complete list of supported standards and detailed resources of each topic described in this article, you can access http://blogs.msdn.com/mohammadakifand click .net 3.0 categories to obtain them.