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Enterprise Library 3.0 January CTP
.NET Framework 2.0 community technology preview released.
In mid-January, Microsoft shipped the second community technology preview (CTP) of its upcoming Enterprise Library 3.0 for .NET Framework 2.0. Enterprise Library 3.0 provides an array of pre-built software application blocks designed to help developers with common enterprise development tasks.
"These application blocks are a type of guidance, provided as source code that can be used 'as is,' extended or modified by developers," state documents on Microsoft's Web site.
The January CTP of Enterprise Library 3.0 includes a near-complete implementation of the Validation Application Block. "[With it], validating your business objects from ASP.NET pages is now essentially a code-free experience," Tom Hollander, product manager in the patterns and practices group at Microsoft, wrote in a blog posting.
Enterprise Library 3.0 also adds a Data Access Application Block, a Logging Application Block and an Application Block Software Factory, which generates Visual Basic code. In addition, it includes a Visual Studio-integrated configuration tool.
The upcoming Enterprise Library 3.0 release provides similar functionality to the previous releases for .NET Framework 1.1. However, Enterprise Library 3.0 has been redesigned to use the new capabilities of .NET Framework 2.0. Microsoft plans another CTP this month, followed by a final release "around late March," Hollander's blog post said.
The current CTP of Enterprise Library 3.0 is available for download at: http://www.codeplex.com/entlib/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx? ReleaseId=1649.
About the Author
Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.