| Preface
The guide in its current form is a first look at some important issues to consider in light of the significant changes encompassed by the new APIs in Microsoft's next operating system, Windows Vista (formerly code name "Longhorn"). This release of the guide provides emerging patterns and practices since the content, especially the code samples, may change significantly in future releases. The guide is also an emerging practice in that it is incomplete. Several key areas are not addressed, but will be in future editions. The guide will be incrementally iterated over and expanded significantly moving forward. Note: Each new version of the guide will receive an incremented version number. The preface is a discussion of exactly what is covered in this version of the guide and roadmap to topics that will be addressed in future editions. |
| Chapter 1: The "Longhorn" Opportunity
The first chapter presents a roadmap of what Windows Vista (formerly code name "Longhorn") means for application developers. This chapter outlines the advances of the next operating system at a high level. In addition to introducing these core advances, the first chapter outlines a spectrum of approaches for capitalizing on the Windows Vista opportunity, with the understanding that many organizations have a significant investment in an existing code base. With this investment in mind, the first chapter offers a set of approaches for moving forward, based on different scenarios and requirements. |
| Chapter 2: Preparing for "Longhorn"
Chapter 2 focuses on two points: When planning a distributed application that will take advantage of Windows Vista (formerly code name "Longhorn"), software designers and developers need to consider both the application's architecture and the way it is coded. The first chapter section explains the motivation for a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and outlines its fundamental tenets. Software designers should take advantage of the principles behind service-oriented architectures to be better prepared to develop applications for Windows Vista. The second section discusses managed code, which is the preferred execution model for applications that will run on Windows Vista. |
| Chapter 3: Recommendations for Managed and Unmanaged Code Interoperability
The third chapter outlines the latest recommendations and thinking on interoperability between managed and unmanaged code from Microsoft. This chapter first looks at the different technology options for interoperability and then drills into specific, low-level recommendations for each technology, based on the current engineering practices at Microsoft. This chapter is relevant to more than just developing applications for Windows Vista (formerly code name "Longhorn"). It provides guidance for any managed/unmanaged interoperability scenario. |
| Chapter 4: Recommendations for Win32, ActiveX, and "Longhorn"
Here's what you'll need to know when your Win32-based applications must migrate to or interoperate with the Windows Presentation Foundation (formerly code name "Avalon"), the presentation and media component of Windows Vista (formerly code name "Longhorn"). New code samples that provide actual implementations are included in this chapter. |
| Chapter 5: Recommendations for Windows Forms and "Longhorn"
This final chapter will help you understand the similarities and differences between the Windows Presentation Foundation (formerly code name "Avalon") applications and Windows Forms applications, and when and where to use each to take advantage of Windows Vista (formerly code name "Longhorn") capabilities. Sample code explores scenarios discussed in the text. |