Microsoft is launching some exciting technologies in 2008 in concert with version 3.5 of the .NET framework. Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and the ADO.NET Entity Framework will improve the developer’s ability to manage application data in an object-oriented fashion.

This paper describes what these technologies do well - and how they fall short of what enterprise application developers actually need.

DevForce EF , which will ship in conjunction with Microsoft's .NET 3.5 launch, addresses these limitations head on. This new platform extends Entity Framework by adding features for object mapping, multi-tier applications, security, performance, model design and code generation, multiple data sources, Web Services, and offline applications.

LINQ and the DevForce Entity Framework

Microsoft is launching some exciting technologies in 2008 in concert with version 3.5 of the .NET framework. Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and the ADO.NET Entity Framework will improve the developers ability to manage application data in object-oriented fashion.

This paper describes what these technologies do well - and how they fall short of what enterprise application developers actually need.

DevForce version 4.0 , whose release will coincide with Microsoft's .NET 3.5 launch, addresses these short falls head on. It starts by leveraging and extending them with the DevForce to Entities query language and the DevForce Entity Framework.

Developer Brief

This provides you with an overview of DevForce's powerful .NET framework. This document will enhance your understanding of the key features of the DevForce framework and highlights their value to enterprise application development.

Object Relational Persistence in .NET

In this article, we orient you to Object Relational Persistence (ORP) and then build an Employee Viewer application using IdeaBlade and .NET. We show that it's easy to test your ORP business model so you can get in step with "test-driven development (TDD)".

Business Object Server

A middle-tier server that deploys business objects in an n-tier environment and allows enterprises to easily build scalable and secure Internet applications that also work off-line. IdeaBlade's Business Object Server is a high-performance, scalable application that can support the performance requirements of the most demanding enterprise environment.

Business Object Server Performance Brief

This short brief describes the performance features included in the DevForce framework and Business Object Server, and describes the results of performance testing using the BOS with a SQL Server database and a cluster of smart client PCs.

Moving to .NET with DevForce: A Visual FoxPro Developer's Perspective

This paper, authored by Mark Miller of Midwest Software Development Corporation, provides a high-level overview of how Visual FoxPro developers can migrate to .NET and smart-client development using IdeaBlade DevForce.

Silverlight Brief

This short brief describes the upcoming Silverlight technology from Microsoft, its impact on rich internet application development, and its implications for ASP.NET and other developers. Includes a brief discussion of how DevForce developers will benefit from Silverlight.

Moving to .NET from PowerBuilder: A Perspective for Client/Server Developers

This paper, authored by Sean Flynn of Infinity System Group, provides a high-level overview of how PowerBuilder developers can migrate to .NET and smart-client development using IdeaBlade DevForce.

The Evolution of Internet Applications

This high-level white paper traces the evolution of the Internet from its roots in the academic community to the changes taking place today with smart- and rich-client options. Includes a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of .NET for internet application development.

IdeaBlade DevForce Verification

This detailed paper by Trevor Leybourne, a technical project manager, introduces the concepts of validation and verification, details verification in action, explains localization of verification messages, and shows some of the built-in verification options provided in the DevForce ObjectMapper.