Web development in the enterprise just got significantly easier! Our Patterns and Practices group just released their Web Client Software Factory which address many of the most common areas I hear corporate web developers talk about.

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  • They have complex page flows and workflows
  • They are developed by multiple collaborating development teams
  • They are composite applications which present information from multiple sources through an integrated user interface.
  • They can benefit from simpler deployment techniques (XCopy deployment)
  • They are composed of loosely coupled modules that can be independently deployed
  • They support online business transaction processing web sites

There is an amazing amount of content here, including:

  • Application Blocks and Libraries. The Composite Web Application Block, Page Flow Application Block and Object Container Data Source Control are included in the factory. The factory also uses Enterprise Library application blocks for security, exception management, logging, and data access.
  • Recipes. The software factory includes the Add View (with presenter) recipe and Add Page Flow recipe. Recipes automate procedures in How-to topics, either entirely or selected steps. They help developers complete routine tasks with minimal input.
  • Templates. The software factory includes the Solution template, Business Module template, Foundational Module template, and Page Flow template. Templates are skeletal application projects that are customized for each application. They can be used for many purposes, including creating initial solution structures and creating individual solution artifacts, such as project items.
  • Designers. The factory designers include page flow designer based on Workflow Foundation.
  • Reference implementation. A reference implementation provides an example of a realistic, finished product that the software factory helps developers build.
  • Architecture guidance and patterns. Architecture guidance and patterns help explain application design choices and the motivation for those choices.
  • How-to topics. These are documented step-by-step instructions that describe how to implement recommended practices in a given domain.