The .NET Framework 2.0 contains a vast set of features that GrandView developers take advantage of daily. While it provides everything we need to make GrandView a rich suite of project management tools, newer releases provide an even greater amount of functionality and flexibility that we would like to leverage.
In version 3.0, four new technologies are introduced:
- Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is Microsoft's new user interface subsystem. In addition to supporting hardware acceleration, it can elegantly combine many types of media (including 2 and 3D graphics, animations, audio, and video) into a single client or web application.
- Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) unifies the way applications can communicate and interact, even across networks.
- Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) provides a framework for defining, executing, and managing workflows.
- Windows CardSpace enables people to more easily and securely maintain a series of digital identities without having to remember different sets of usernames and passwords.
Introduced in version 3.5 are a variety of Language Features:
- Language Integrated Query (LINQ) allows for the rapid development of on-the-fly, in-code queries to SQL Server, XML Documents, or other objects.
- With Extension Methods, developers can quickly add custom functionality to their current code, or even modify the .NET Framework's Runtime Library.
- Anonymous Types, Automatic Properties, Object/ List Initializers, and Lambda Expressions simplify development: they limit the amount of redundant or complex code developers need to write, and lets them focus on what's really important - developing new and exciting features for our GrandView users!
- In addition, support for AJAX is now built-in, in the form of ASP.NET AJAX, opening the door for more dynamic web experiences.
GrandView is currently implemented using the .NET Framework 2.0, but shifting to .NET 3.x would require almost no effort or development downtime, as the newer versions are backward compatible.
We are always looking ahead to new and useful technologies that can help make GrandView a more complete and robust project management solution!
Mark Carpenter
GrandView Business Solutions Developer