First Experiences with the Service Factory BAT

Published 16 April 06 06:55 AM | Sam Gentile
I started to work with the new Web Service Factory or Service BAT tonight, err this morning. I can see where this will be a huge help with designing and implementing WCF Services. For instance, take a look at my screen shot here of the GAT template for Creating a New WCF Service. This generates this second screen which shows the generation of projects for all the layers of the solution as well as things like Data Contracts, etc. This creates the following guidance:

You have successfully created a WCF solution

Actions performed:
  1. Solution structure created.
  2. Projects added to the solution structure.
  3. Corresponding references between projects added.
Next Steps:
  1. Create the Data Contract.
  2. Create the Fault Contract.
  3. Create the Service Contract.
  4. Create the Service Contract implementation class.
  5. Create the Service Host.
  6. Test the Service Host.
  7. Create the Service Client.
  8. Test the Service Client.
This is going to be very useful as it continues to evolve.

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Comments

# Tomas Restrepo said on April 16, 2006 01:39 PM:

I saw that too, and *almost* liked it. The problem I see with it is a) I saw no way of using the BAT without having it force your project organization. That to me would be most important, because most projects with services I've been involved in are not *all* about the services; they are just a small part of a larger, more complex solution.

That said, I did like pretty much how it forces a kind of contract first approach in the sense that it forces you to define datacontracts first, then fault contracts, then service contract (though I've been finding datacontracts to be fairly restrictive for an XmlSerializer fan like me :)).

I also found the datacontracts template to be a little lacking (after all, all it seemed to do for me was generate like 4 lines of code... took more time to use the wizard than type them in by hand :)). I also think it would be pretty interesting to see separate client-side and server-side solution guidance packages, instead of seeing one that contains both, but that maybe I'm just not getting it :)

# SamGentile said on April 16, 2006 01:44 PM:

No, your thoughts are right on, it was just 4 AM here and I was excited with something-). The good news its very early on and this is the kind of feedback that they need my friend.

# Jason Hogg said on April 18, 2006 01:38 AM:

Awesome discussion guys! I definitely encourage you to continue this discussion on our workspace as well... it makes it easier for us to unify the requirements that way.

# TrackBack said on April 18, 2006 11:50 PM:

Truckin' Along with Iteration 19 and Indigo/Contract First with Services BAT

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