Summary

While Windows Workflow Foundation does not have the visual glitz of WPF or the broad reach of WCF, it is a highly useful addition to the .NET Framework 3.0. Most business applications have some need for workflow, and having a standard means of creating this workflow ensures that the workflow is fully featured and accurately reflects business needs. As WF is readily available with the .NET Framework, developers no longer need to recreate a core business rules engine with each application. WF is extensible, so developers can take advantage of it in their applications, without being limited to the designed features.

As with the other components of the .NET Framework, WF integrates well into other applications, including Windows Forms and ASP.NET applications. It provides the means to extract the frequently complex workflow from those applications, and to graphically design the workflow. This graphical representation can be used to communicate the process with business users, increasing the chance that the workflow is represented correctly. Finally, as the business needs change, it is a simple process to update the workflow, without requiring changes to the core application.

Resources

While Windows Workflow Foundation is a relatively new component of the .NET Framework, you can already find useful websites for information:

• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Community (http://wf.netfx3.com). The main community site for WF and the other frameworks added with .NET Framework 3.0. This site has a number of useful samples, custom activities, and forums available.

• WF on MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com/workflow). Articles, documentation, and more assistance on the main MSDN site.