New Features in the .NET Framework Version 4.0

The Microsoft .NET Framework is one of the favorite development frameworks platform running on Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. Currently (on 12 October 2009) the .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 is the Stable release of .NET Framework released on 11 August 2008. Microsoft also announced the .NET Framework 4.0 on 29 September 2008. The Public Beta was released on 20 May 2009. Here we will take a look at new and enhanced features in the .NET Framework version 4.0 Beta 2 release. This is not final features and is subject to change with respect to the Stable release of .NET Framework version 4.0.

The Microsoft .NET Framework 4 coming up with many new features for enabling developers to create applications faster than ever and fully compatible with the older versions of .NET Framework. Some of the New Features in the .NET Framework Version 4.0 are as follows:

Read the rest of this entry »

The Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation provides the foundation for building applications and high fidelity experiences in Windows Vista, blending together application UI, documents, and media content, while exploiting the full power of your computer. The functionality extends to the support for Tablet and other forms of input, a more modern imaging and printing pipeline, accessibility and UI automation infrastructure, data driven UI and visualization, as well as the integration points for weaving the application experience into the Windows shell.

Windows Communication Foundation (formerly code-named “Indigo”) is a set of .NET technologies for building and running connected systems. It is a new breed of communications infrastructure built around the Web services architecture. Advanced Web services support in Windows Communication Foundation provides secure, reliable, and transacted messaging along with interoperability. The service-oriented programming model of Windows Communication Foundation is built on the Microsoft .NET Framework and simplifies development of connected systems. Windows Communication Foundation unifies a broad array of distributed systems capabilities in a composable and extensible architecture, spanning transports, security systems, messaging patterns, encodings, network topologies, and hosting models. Windows Communication Foundation is available for Windows Vista as well as for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Windows Workflow Foundation is the programming model, engine and tools for quickly building workflow enabled applications on Windows. It consists of a .NET Framework version 3.0 (formerly WinFX) namespace, an in-process workflow engine, and designers for Visual Studio 2005. Windows Workflow Foundation is available for both client and server versions of Windows. Windows Workflow Foundation includes support for both system workflow and human workflow across a wide range of scenarios including: workflow within line of business applications, user interface page-flow, document-centric workflow, human workflow, composite workflow for service oriented applications, business rule driven workflow and workflow for systems management.

Windows CardSpace is a Microsoft .NET Framework version 3.0 (formerly WinFX) component that provides the consistent user experience required by the identity metasystem. It is specifically hardened against tampering and spoofing to protect the end user’s digital identities and maintain end-user control.