SOA Odyssey & Killer Features of 3.5 Framework
I'm currently in the "what's new" lecture from framework 3.5 (excluding Linq) touching these subjects:
- ADO.NET entity framework - ORM allowing mapping of field in an object to several tables instead of (conventionally) one.
- ADO.NET Data services
- ASP.NET dynamic data - automatic generation of Linq queries from the web UI.
- WPF & WCF enhancements
ADO.NET synchronization services - creates a localized SQL server (CE) instance on the client machine replicating the received DB (based on settings). Allows clients to work disconnected and to synchronize only using incremental changes. According to the lecture it's fairly easy to implement this.
Client application services - Handles creation and authentication of users and roles.
Office Ribbon control - Creating ribbon (controls container, like a toolbar) to be used in Office applications, with .Net code running behind it.
Managed Addin Framework - Wrapper for VS addins allowing seperation between the addin and the version of the VS.
The previous lecture was Mano's on SOA related technologies. I had doubts wether to go to this lecture or the roadmap lecture, and chose this one since I know Mano is a talented and funny presenter. As it turns out, I just spoke with someone who went to that lecture and didn't enjoy it very much, so probably a wise choice. Manu covered (not in depth, as there was no time) WCF, WF, Biztalk (to be used as ESB) and Cardspace.
I sat in Manu's lecture with Ohad, and he chose another lecture afterwards. As I found a power socket here (a real problem here for bloggers going to lectures), I guess I made the right choice again :)
As following lectures are mostly in-depth views of new server technologies, I think I'll skip the next round of lectures, and than go to eat supper, meet people and go to the business center penning later.