Preface

WCF is Microsoft's recommended model for building services, and Entity Framework is Microsoft's preferred ORM to access underlying data storages. Learning WCF and Entity Framework has become essential and critical for every software developer to survive in this SOA world.

This book is a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through learning WCF, Entity Framework, and LINQ to Entities. You will be guided through the creation of six WCF and Entity Framework solutions, of which four are multilayered real-world WCF service solutions, so you will not only be reading but also be coding through the book to gain practical experience in WCF and Entity Framework. Various test clients will be associated with each solution and all solutions can be built and run independently of other solutions. Clear instructions and relevant screenshots will make sure that you don't get lost in the world of WCF and Entity Framework. Configuration files, host applications, test clients, and WCF services for each solution will also be available for download for you to examine, modify, and debug from the outside in.

This book focuses on the essentials of using WCF and Entity Framework, rather than providing a reference for every single possibility. It leaves the reference material online where it belongs and instead concentrates on practical examples, code, and advice.