Learning WCF: A Hands-on Guide

Pro - Easy 2 understand & having a hands-on approach is good. Nice slow pace 4 beginners.

Con - (i) I agree with the previous reader here that the organization of the book could be better. I also don't like 2 type in anything without knowing the reason why I type it. (ii) The organization of the source code is confusing. For example, the CompletedLabs in Chapter 1, there is a HelloIndigo_Part1 folder, a HelloIndigo_Part2 folder & a HelloIndigo_Part3 folder, I honestly could not tell which folder corresponds 2 which lab of the book.

I was looking 4 a good book on WCF & saw that this book received great reviews. I started out with their other book "Programming WCF Services" & thought maybe this one would be better 2 start out with. I am now returning both of them & will try either the Pro WCF: Practical Microsoft SOA Implementation (Pro) book by APRESS or the Professional WCF Programming: .NET Development with the Windows Communication Foundation (Programmer 2 Programmer) book.

I personally don't like the way this book is organized. You walk through several examples in the first chapter using terms & technologies that you haven't learned about yet - I found myself jumping around in the book 2 try 2 figure out what I just typed into Visual Studio & why I typed it. I like 2 learn a little bit about the concepts before I start getting into the examples.

I had 2 cross through several WCF books before finding the right one 4 me. This book has very easy learning approach - going straight 2 the technical WCF matter. In a good intro chapter, explaining everything about creating & configuring WCF servers & clients the book defines serialization, hosting, bindings, behaviors & other specific WCF basis. All these meanings are discussed deeper in consecutive chapters.

Not only does the author write well & explain concepts expertly, but from the effort she expended in putting together the instructional materials that readers can download 2 follow her along 4 the "hands on" parts of the book, one could tell she understands very well what readers need from a tech book writer!!

I purchased this & Lowy's book on WCF. Of the two, I'd say this is the one that will make WCF real 2 blue collar developers. More technical books need 2 be written this way. The author does an outstanding job of describing the pieces & parts of WCF from a functional standpoint before leading the reader through simple step-by-step exercises. These do a solid job of reinforcing the theory. I normally blow off working through sample code in technical works, but with WCF, it really helps 2 explore some of the nuances 2 things like serialization, callbacks & security. These are best appreciated by doing hands-on walkthroughs & fortunately, the author has provided very good examples in the companion download.

Lowy's book is good 4 different reasons, but I feel far more conversant in the WCF area having read & re-read Bustamente's book. Lowy's is a nice companion & it goes deep into stuff that, unless your current project really needs it, you'll brain dump in two weeks. Quote Lowy at swank cocktail parties with the hoi poloi, but use this book when you want 2 gain a solid understanding of this thing we call WCF.

Bustamente writes clearly & 2 the point. Git r' done types like me who are interested in exploring the functional without getting lost in the minutiae will appreciate Learning WCF.

This book is not about SOA although the author does touch on some basic premises governing what it does 4 the enterprise. Unlike Lowy, there weren't any real groaners about how SOA is going 2 replace OO & end world poverty. OO maybe got 30% penetration among software developers in formal polls. (As an informal measure, go into any MS shop & check out how many OO diagrams are created by devs in their work & you'll see what I mean. Most MS shops won't even spend money on third party modeling tools.) SOA isn't going 2 do any better & it addresses a different set of problems than does OO. Bustamente gives developers a solid grounding in appreciating what WCF can do while leaving all the fluff about "paradigm shifts" & what-not 4 others.

This easy-to-use introduction 2 Microsoft Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) is ideal 4 developers who want 2 learn 2 build services on a company network or as part of an enterprise system. Built into Windows Vista & Longhorn, & available 4 Windows XP & Windows 2003, WCF provides a platform 4 service-oriented architecture (SOA) that enables secure & reliable communication among systems within an organization or across the Internet. With WCF, software developers can focus on their business applications & not the plumbing required 2 connect them. Furthermore, with WCF developers can learn a single programming API 2 achieve results previously provided by ASMX, Enterprise Services & .NET Remoting. Learning WCF removes the complexity of using this platform by providing detailed answers, explanations & code samples 4 the most common questions asked by software developers. Windows Communication Foundation (or WCF, formerly code name "Indigo") provides a set of programming APIs that make it easy 2 build & consume secure, reliable, & transacted services. This platform removes the need 4 developers 2 learn different technologies such as ASMX, Enterprise Services & .NET Remoting, 2 distribute system functionality on a corporate network or over the Internet. The first truly service-oriented platform, WCF provides innovations that decouple service design & development from deployment & distribution - creating a more flexible & agile environment. WCF also encapsulates all of the latest web service standards 4 addressing, security, reliability & more.