Windows Workflow Foundation (Part I)

Windows Workflow Foundation is part of Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. Workflow Foundation is a programming model and extensible API to develop Workflow-enabled application, it means, you can model you business layer as a Workflow Layer inside your application. As an extensible API you can create Custom Activities and Custom Services to your own demands. Windows Workflow Foundation also have a designer for Visual Studio. As a workflow engine you can create services like Persistence Service and Tracking Services. Windows Workflow Foundation has been used to develop some application like Sharepoint and CRM. In this lesson we will understand why we can have more flexible application using Windows Workflow Foundation and also understand the basic concepts to start developing with Workflow Foundation, like: Activities, Custom Activities, Workflow Runtime Object, Modeling Workflow Decisions , hosting application and so on.

*Technologies Used: Windows Workflow Foundation, .NET Framework 3.5, Visual Studio 2008.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Windows
• Workflow Foundation

[admink9]

@Entropy56 If you are just writing a desktop application with no database interaction or stateful communication to other instances or applications, sure, its overkill. But if you actually have some infrastructure around your application, then it makes more sense. It sounds like you are looking for a solution (WF) in search of a problem (your .net app).

[Entropy56]

When I heard about WF I wanted to know what it was for and why I, as a desktop application developer, need to use it. I spent days reading articles about WF and NEVER ONCE did they mention that it was for distributed web applications or middle tier business logic. It is completely USELESS for those who write fast desktop applications in .Net.