BlueFinity Product Roadmap

1
BlueFinity Product Roadmap

• David Cooper
• Lead Developer
• BlueFinity International

2
Agenda

• How do we see things developing?
• Both the .NET environment in general and
  BlueFinity products
• The main strands of development
• Where are our development resources going to be
  focused over the next 12 months
• Specific product roadmap
• For current and new products

3
Whats on the technology RADAR?

• Hot .NET topics
• WCF (Windows Communications Foundation)
• WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), XAML,
  Silverlight and XBAP
• Object-Datamodel impedance mismatch
• LINQ (Language Integrated Query)
• Entity Framework
• Business Object modelling
• CAB and SCSF

4
Emerging Web Technologies

• Silverlight (Previously called WPF/E)
• Cross-browser plug-in IE, Safari, Firefox,
  Mozilla
• Currently supported on Windows and Mac
• 4mb in size
• Implements a cut-down, sand-boxed .NET
  environment
• Includes CLR, XAML engine, WPF support, Vector
  engine, multi-media, LINQ and more!
• Tight integration with the VS.NET environment

5
Emerging Web Technologies

• XBAP (XAML Browser Application)
• 95 sandboxed .NET environment
• Essentially ClickOnce in a browser
• Requires .NET fw3 on the client system
• Limited browser integration
• But, just about everything that the smart-client
  developer requires
• Develop-once with VS.NET

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Where is Smart Client Heading?

• Been with us every since PC arrived
• some 25 years
• Come in and out of favor Vs. Web
• The differentiation is starting to blur
• Silverlight, XBAP
• Application development patterns
• CAB (Composite UI Application Blocks)

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Composite UI Application Block (CAB)

• Product of the Microsoft Patterns and Practices
  team
• A frame work for the creation of loosely coupled
  SmartParts
• Encourages
• Developer specialization
• Re-use and consistency (for both developer and
  user)
• Manifested in the Smart Client Software Factory

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Whats on the technology RADAR?

• How do these issue impact us?
• WCF implemented in mv.NET v4
• WPF, Silverlight, LINQ, CAB tracking this
  technology very closely as it evolves
• Business Object modelling watch this space!
• Useful resource links
• To be posted on the BlueFinity web site.

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BlueFinity Development Focus

• Enhanced RAD features
• Visual Studio add-ins
• Supporting additional 3rd party controls
• Support for emerging .NET technologies

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mv.NET Version 3.5.0

• Released May 8th

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mv.NET Version 3.5.1

• Due for release Aug 07

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mv.NET Release 3.5.1

• Vista Support
• InstallShield-based installation

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mv.NET Version 4

• Due for release Qtr 4 07

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mv.NET Release 4

• .NET Framework 3 build
• WCF integration (.NET remoting replacement)
• Extended VS.NET integration
• Table Adapter (SSIS)
• Extended Ajax support within web Binding Objects
• 64-bit support