Software factory (Microsoft .NET)

A Software factory is a collection of software for creating specific types of software. A software factory may include processes, templates, Integrated development environment configurations and views. The type of software a factory may produce is defined when the factory is created. Software factories help structure the development process.

Although the term "software factory" is used by Microsoft in association with their .NET Framework, software factories are much broader in use and application.

Implementations

• The Enterprise Framework Factory (the EFx Factory) from Microsoft Services was one of the first pioneering architectural software factories to use a unique combination of model driven development, and integrated runtime environment tools to build Service-Oriented Enterprise Applications and Services.
  • EFx Factory Blog
• Microsoft Patterns and Practices Team have developed four software factories:
  • SharePoint Software Factory, for SharePoint 2007/2010 and Visual Studio 2008/2010
  • Smart Client Software Factory, for Visual Studio 2008 (released: April 2008)
  • Web Service Software Factory (released: July 2006, updated December 2006, 2010, a new Service Factory : Modeling Edition version (incompatible with the previous ones) released on November 2007)
  • Mobile Client Software Factory (released: July 2006)
• Project Glidepath is a Micro ISV-oriented Software Factory, also from Microsoft.
  • Project Glidepath Blog
  • Project Glidepath Forums
• NConstruct is Windows and Web rapid enterprise application development tool and environment for .NET Framework environment.

See also

• EFx Factory .net factory
• Software Product Line

References

Further reading

• Design Patterns in Microsoft patterns & practices Software Factories

External links

• SMART-Microsoft Software Factory by Ordina (.NET 3.0 and DSL based)
• Software Factories: Assembling Applications with Patterns, Models, Frameworks, and Tools
• MSDN Web Client Software Factory 2010