Guy Starbuck

The patterns & practices group at Microsoft provides architectural and design guidance for users of Microsoft technologies. Part of the way they do this is by producing and distributing packages called "application blocks." An application block consists of a functional subsystem or software framework that can be valuable in several ways. Application blocks can be implemented in many types of applications as time-saving subsystems. They are also reference examples of software designed and developed using the best practices of Microsoft architecture. Application blocks are freely distributed with all source code and documentation. The Composite User Interface Application Block The Composite UI Application Block (called "CAB" in the online community) is the first application block that has been developed exclusively for .NET 2.0. It is an architectural framework that is... (more)

The Composite UI Application Block

The composite UI Application Block (called "CAB" in the online community) is a new application block that is being developed by Microsoft patterns & practices and is scheduled for release shortly after the final release of .NET 2.0. The current code for the Composite UI Application Block is the first Community Technology Preview. As with any beta release, there could always be changes before the final version. The core design and concepts, however, are less likely to undergo any major changes, and it is worth taking a look at the architecture and design of the block for several r... (more)

Making Windows Forms Work with Legacy Web Applications

This article describes a pattern that allows any Web site or Web application to launch and interact with .NET 2.0 Windows Forms applications that are deployed using Microsoft's new "ClickOnce" technology. This is done by taking advantage of a feature that allows Windows Forms applications that are deployed using ClickOnce to receive querystring parameters. Background: "ClickOnce" Many people who work in business software development cringe when they think about large-scale deployment of Windows Forms applications. New versions of a desktop application must be deployed in controlle... (more)