Microsoft Sync Framework

This blog is supported by the Microsoft Sync Framework Engineering and Program Management teams at Microsoft.

Microsoft Sync Framework is a comprehensive synchronization platform that enables collaboration and offline access for applications, services, and devices. Using Microsoft Sync Framework, developers can build synchronization ecosystems that integrate any application with any data from any store, using any protocol over any network. This blog will help you understand how Microsoft Sync Framework enables you to build synchronization into your application.

Microsoft Sync Framework is composed of various synchronization technologies, including:

• Microsoft Sync Framework core components – An SDK that allows developers to create custom providers that enable new applications, services, and data stores to participate in a synchronization ecosystem.
• Database synchronization providers – ADO.NET-based providers that allow synchronization of relational data using REST style interfaces, allowing data to be taken offline.
• File synchronization provider – A ready-to-configure provider capable of representing any Win32 compatible file system (e.g. FAT, NTFS, or a removable device). This provider handles challenges such as change detection on FAT volumes, name-name collision resolution, update-delete conflicts, and the ability to preview a synchronization session.
• Web synchronization components – Full support for producing and consuming RSS and ATOM feeds from any provider.
• Metadata Storage Service – A component that can be used by developers for storing synchronization metadata, such as versions, anchors, and change detection information. This component greatly simplifies the development of custom providers that do not have a natural place to store metadata.

This blog will discuss various topics that relate to any of these components. In this blog, we will also periodically add samples and announcements that relate to these technologies.

As always, we look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Liam Cavanagh,

Program Manager

Data Replication and Synchronization