WCF-4 Client/Host quick start/tutorial

For those of you who already know WCF basics and need to start quickly here are guidelines to start a working client-server/service project:

My Quickest Start

1. Designing Service Contracts
1. Start simple, grow in time.
2. Implement the contract
3. Host the service - Console (starting simple).
1. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms731758.aspx
1. New 'Console Application'
2. See 'Example Host Code' below...
1. Add Reference.... Select System.ServiceModel
2. Reference 'ServiceModel'
3. Start the service code
1. Using
2. Open
3. Close
4. Disable WcfSvcHost (if needed)
1. "Right-click the WCF Service Project in Solution Explorer, choose Properties, and click WCF Options tab. The Start WCF Service Host when debugging another project in the same solution check box is enabled by default."
5. CLIENT SIDE - Obtain the Service Contract, Bindings, and Addresses
1. Enable the service
1. Set the Host as the default startup program and run in without debugger (usually <CTRL>+F5).
2. 'Add Service Reference...' 
1. Past the service address in the 'Address' field and 'Go'.
2. Point the service and 'OK' =results=> a new client proxy code will be generated in your client.
3. SET YOUR CLIENT APPLICATION AS THE STARTUP PROGRAM :)
4. Add service usage code to your client (see 'Example Client Code' below...).
6. Run and relax :-).

Example Host Code

Code Snippet

1. using System;
2. using System.Collections.Generic;
3. using System.Linq;
4. using System.Text;
5.  
6. using System.ServiceModel;
7. using System.ServiceModel.Description;
8. using MyWcfLib;
9.  
10.  
11. namespace MyServer
12. {
13.     class Program
14.     {
15.         static void Main(string[] args)
16.         {
17.             Uri baseAddress = new Uri("http://localhost:9090/hello");
18.  
19.             using (ServiceHost host = new ServiceHost(typeof(MyService), baseAddress))
20.             {
21.                 // Enable metadata publishing.
22.                 ServiceMetadataBehavior smb = new ServiceMetadataBehavior();
23.                 smb.HttpGetEnabled = true;
24.                 smb.MetadataExporter.PolicyVersion = PolicyVersion.Policy15;
25.                 host.Description.Behaviors.Add(smb);
26.  
27.                 // Open the ServiceHost to start listening for messages. Since
28.                 // no endpoints are explicitly configured, the runtime will create
29.                 // one endpoint per base address for each service contract implemented
30.                 // by the service.
31.                 host.Open();
32.  
33.                 Console.WriteLine("The service is ready at {0}", baseAddress);
34.                 Console.WriteLine("Press <Enter> to stop the service.");
35.                 Console.ReadLine();
36.  
37.                 // Close the ServiceHost.
38.                 host.Close();
39.             }
40.  
41.         }
42.     }
43. }

Example Client Code

Code Snippet

1. using System;
2. using System.Collections.Generic;
3. using System.Linq;
4. using System.Text;
5.  
6. namespace ConsoleApplication1
7. {
8.     class Program
9.     {
10.         static void Main(string[] args)
11.         {
12.             var client = new ServiceReference1.MyServiceClient();
13.  
14.             Console.WriteLine(client.GenerateGuid().ToString());
15.             client.Close();
16.  
17.             Console.ReadLine();
18.         }
19.     }
20. }

MSDN's 'Basic Programming Lifecycle'

1. Designing Service Contracts
2. Implement the contract
3. Configure the service endpoints
4. Host the service
5. Build a client application

Please, post comments if you find errors.
I'll fix them ASAP and others can enjoy a cleaner clode.

Hope it helps...

TUTORIAL: VS - Creating Code Snippets - CodeProject

I was in the middle of creating my experiance/article about the snippets subject when I got an email from http://www.codeproject.com/ with this wonderful article.

Extending Visual Studio Part 1 - Creating Code Snippets - CodeProject

I've already created some snippets, feel free to use them:

'Decorator-Pattern' snippet (activation: dp_decorator + TAB):

Code Snippet

1. xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
2. <CodeSnippetsxmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
3. <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
4. <Header>
5. <Title>Decorator DPTitle>
6. <Shortcut>dp_decoratorShortcut>
7. <Description>Code snippet for decorator design patternDescription>
8. <Author>S.OAuthor>
9. <SnippetTypes>
10. <SnippetType>ExpansionSnippetType>
11. SnippetTypes>
12. Header>
13. <Snippet>
14. <Declarations>
15. <Literal>
16. <ID>ComponentID>
17. <ToolTip>Component nameToolTip>
18. <Default>ComponentDefault>
19. Literal>
20. <Literal>
21. <ID>DecoratorID>
22. <ToolTip>Decorator nameToolTip>
23. <Default>DecoratorDefault>
24. Literal>
25. Declarations>
26. <Code Language="csharp">
27. // Decorator patern:
28. // http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decorator_pattern#Structure
29. // http://www.dofactory.com/Patterns/PatternDecorator.aspx
30. abstract class $Component$
31. {
32. public abstract void Operation();
33. }
35. abstract class $Decorator$ : $Component$
36. {
37. protected $Component$ _$Component$;
39. public void SetComponent($Component$ component)
40. {
41. this._$Component$ = component;
42. }
44. public override void Operation()
45. {
46. if (_$Component$ != null)
47. {
48. _$Component$.Operation();
49. // + [your operation here]
50. }
51. }
52. }
53. $end$
55. ]]>
56. Code>
57. Snippet>
58. CodeSnippet>
59. CodeSnippets>

The 'Event changed property' snippet (eprop + TAB):

Code Snippet

1. xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
2. <CodeSnippetsxmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
3. <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
4. <Header>
5. <Title>event changed propertyTitle>
6. <Shortcut>epropShortcut>
7. <Description>Code snippet for eprop...Description>
8. <Author>SOAuthor>
9. <SnippetTypes>
10. <SnippetType>ExpansionSnippetType>
11. SnippetTypes>
12. Header>
13. <Snippet>
14. <Declarations>
15. <Literal Editable="true">
16. <ID>prop_nameID>
17. <ToolTip>property nameToolTip>
18. <Function>PropName()Function>
19. <Default>PropNameDefault>
20. Literal>
21. <Literal Editable="true">
22. <ID>prop_typeID>
23. <ToolTip>property typeToolTip>
24. <Function>PropType()Function>
25. <Default>ObjectDefault>
26. Literal>
28. Declarations>
29. <Code Language="csharp">
30. #region $prop_name$
32. ///
33. /// Occurs when $prop_name$ changes.
34. ///
35. public event EventHandler $prop_name$Changed;
37. ///
38. /// Raises the event.
39. ///
40. /// The instance containing the event data.
41. protected virtual void On$prop_name$Changed(EventArgs e)
42. {
43. if ($prop_name$Changed != null)
44. $prop_name$Changed(this, e);
45. }
47. private $prop_type$ _$prop_name$ = null;$end$
48. ///
49. /// Gets or sets the type of the region.
50. ///
51. ///
52. /// The type of the region.
53. ///
54. public $prop_type$ $prop_name$
55. {
56. get { return _$prop_name$; }
57. set
58. {
59. if (_$prop_name$ != value)
60. {
61. _$prop_name$ = value;
63. On$prop_name$Changed(new EventArgs());
64. }
65. }
66. }
67. #endregion
68. ]]>
69. Code>
70. Snippet>
71. CodeSnippet>
72. CodeSnippets>

And the 'TODO' snippet (TD + TAB), need some polish like auto date/time stamp, priority...:

Code Snippet

1. xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
2. <CodeSnippetsxmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/2005/CodeSnippet">
3. <CodeSnippet Format="1.0.0">
4. <Header>
5. <Title>TODOTitle>
6. <Shortcut>TDShortcut>
7. <Description>Code snippet for TODO...Description>
8. <Author>SOAuthor>
9. <SnippetTypes>
10. <SnippetType>ExpansionSnippetType>
11. SnippetTypes>
12. Header>
13. <Snippet>
14. <Declarations>
15. Declarations>
16. <Code Language="csharp">// TODO:P, TimeStamp, S.O: $end$]]>
17. Code>
18. Snippet>
19. CodeSnippet>
20. CodeSnippets>

My advice: if you already created a code pattern twice (meaning - you copied and pasted a code and renamed some variables and function/property names), add it to your snippets, you'll need it and it will save time.

REMARK: Please follow the codeproject artical if you wish to install/use them...

Example: C# dynamic 'Enum' like solution.

Example usage:

Code Snippet

1. using System;
2. using System.Collections.Generic;
3.  
4. namespace GuiLib.TeraRegion
5. {
6.     public class TeraRegionModel
7.     {
8.  
9.         /// <summary>
10.         /// Dynamic enum of RegionTypes.
11.         /// <remarks>* This is a [Flags] and normal mixed enum!
12.         /// * 0 is reserved! it's not used!
13.         /// * 1 is reserved! it's void.
14.         /// Find it's max and assigne it's next value like this:
15.         ///     var next_enum_val = RegionTypes.Values.Max<ulong>();
16.         ///     RegionTypes.Add("new_item", next_enum_val*2);
17.         /// </remarks>
18.         /// </summary>
19.         public static Dictionary<string, ulong> RegionTypes = new Dictionary<string, ulong>()
20.         {
21.             {"void", 1}
22.         };
23.  
24.  
25.         #region RegionType
26.  
27.         /// <summary>
28.         /// Occurs when RegionType changes.
29.         /// </summary>
30.         public event EventHandler RegionTypeChanged;
31.  
32.         /// <summary>
33.         /// Raises the <see cref="E:RegionTypeChanged"/> event.
34.         /// </summary>
35.         /// <param name="e">The <see cref="System.EventArgs"/> instance containing the event data.</param>
36.         protected virtual void OnRegionTypeChanged(EventArgs e)
37.         {
38.             if (RegionTypeChanged != null)
39.                 RegionTypeChanged(this, e);
40.         }
41.  
42.         private ulong _RegionType = 1;
43.  
44.  
45.         /// <summary>
46.         /// Gets or sets the type of the region.
47.         /// </summary>
48.         /// <value>
49.         /// The type of the region.
50.         /// </value>
51.         public ulong RegionType
52.         {
53.             get
54.             {
55.                 return _RegionType;
56.             }
57.  
58.             set
59.             {
60.                 if (_RegionType != value)
61.                 {
62.                     _RegionType = value;
63.  
64.                     OnRegionTypeChanged(new EventArgs());
65.                 }
66.             }
67.         }
68.         #endregion
69.  
70.     }
71. }

Tip: C# dynamic 'Enum' like solution.

Hi,
This is very usefull if you wish to be able to create dynamic enums.

Motivation
* You need to enumerate something but wish to add items to it in runtime (e.g. your server should support v1 protocol and v2 protocol where v2 protocol extends v1.enum).

* You wish to extand this enum dynamically by an outside addin.

Solution and prof

Code Snippet

12. enum MyEnum : ulong
13. {
14.     // NOTICE: string_name = ulong_value,
15.     first = 2<<0,
16.     second = 2<<1,
17.     last = 2<<2,
18.  
19.     max = 2 << 63
20.     // dynamic string name = dynamic ulong value!
21. }
22.  
23. Dictionary<string, ulong> DynamicEnum1 = new Dictionary<string, ulong>()
24. {
25.     {"first", 2 << 0},
26.     {"second", 2 << 1},
27.     {"last", 2 << 2},
28.  
29.     {"max", 2 << 63}
30. };
31.  
32. public void usage()
33. {
34.     MyEnum qwe = MyEnum.first;
35.  
36.     DynamicEnum1.Add("another_one", 2 << 3);
37.     UInt64 qwe2 = DynamicEnum1["first"];
38.  
39.     // (UInt64)qwe == qwe2!!
40. }

Hope it helps.

Tcl, Read dynamic variables

I've just solved another Tcl mystery I had from day one in Tcl (around 2 months :)
It was not critical until today!

Example

set qwe.qaz.1 Hello
set qwe.qaz.2 From
set qwe.qaz.3 ShloEmi

set wanted_qaz 3
upvar 0 "qwe.qaz.${wanted_qaz}" wanted_qaz_val
set this_will_be_ShloEmi $wanted_qaz_val

Hope this helps...

Tcl, dynamic namespace invoker

Here is a code example/usage

Tcl, Function that returns 'struct' like values...

Here is how I managed to do it... Code

Tcl, FIFO based on a list.

FIFO based on a list... code

Debugging Tcl, advanced way.. (part 1)

DEBUG helpers - code.

Hi,
Here is a nice helper code to make your debug life much much easier.

If you encountered in a bug and the debugger is so slow you wana die, you probabelly puts some messages in the function entry and when the function returns (with it's value).

In the attached code you'll find a very nice surprise.