What's New in the .NET Framework 4.0

· Next versions of Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) will provide better support for Web 2.0 technologies like REST, POX, ATOM.

· Performance and Scalability of WCF and WF are expected to increase by minimum 10X.

· New workflow models.

· Seamless integration between WCF and WF including a new Visual Designer.

· Parallel Programming framework using PLINQ, Task Parallel Library and Coordination Data Structures to better utilize power of multi-processor and multi-core machines.

· Build declarative applications with WF, WCF and WPF using XAML. So, XAML is no more only for WPF and WF.

1. WCF enhancements :

1.1 RESTful enhancements

1.1.1 Simplifying the building of REST Singleton & Collection Services, ATOM Feed and Publishing Protocol Services, and HTTP Plain XML Services using WCF

WCF REST Starter Kit to be released on Codeplex to get early feedback

o Messaging enhancements

Transports - UDP, MQ, Local in-process

Protocols - SOAP over UDP, WS-Discovery, WS-BusinessActivity, WS-I BP 1.2

Duplex durable messaging

o Correlation enhancements

Content and context driven, One-way support

o Declarative Workflow Services

Seamless integration between WF and WCF and unified XAML model

Build entire application in XAML, from presentation to data to services to workflow

· WF enhancements :

o Significant improvements in performance and scalability

Ten-fold improvement in performance

o New workflow flow-control models and pre-built activities

Flowcharts, rules

Expanded built-in activities – PowerShell, database, messaging, etc.

o Enhancements in workflow modeling

Persistence control, transaction flow, compensation support, data binding and scoping

Rules composable and seamlessly integrated with workflow engine

o Updated visual designer

Easier to use by end-users

Easier to rehost by ISVs

Ability to debug XAML


.