Microsoft Sync Framework CTP2 Available for Download - FeedSync and SyncToy Too
by David Hayden, Microsoft MVP C#
I watched the MIX08 Session Video, Using Microsoft Sync Framework and FeedSync, and was impressed with the potential of the Microsoft Sync Framework. I completely missed the Microsoft Sync Framework CTP1 only to realize that the Microsoft Sync Framework CTP2 is now available for download.
Per the Microsoft Sync Framework Developer Center:
"Microsoft Sync Framework is a comprehensive synchronization platform that enables collaboration and offline scenarios for applications, services and devices. Developers can build sync ecosystems that integrate any application, any type of data, using any protocol over any network. New in this CTP1 refresh Release is full support for producing and consuming RSS and Atom feeds using the FeedSync 1.0 specification."
The MIX08 Video shows a pretty cool demonstration of the Microsoft Sync Framework synchronizing contact information in found in an Access Database, Outlook Contacts, and Hotmail Contacts. Although they manually kicked off synchronization, you can imagine how this can be done under the covers with no manual kickoff of Synchronization.
This gets even more interesting when you consider that SQL Server Data Services ( SSDS ) will provide a SyncProvider for the Microsoft Sync Framework and the ADO.NET Data Services Team is considering an "Astoria Offline" approach that will use the Microsoft Sync Framework as well. Pablo Castro and Mike Flasko talked about the "Astoria Offline" Concept in a few presentations at Mix08. I mentioned "Astoria Offline" in my review of Mike Flasko's presentation, MIX08 Video Presentation - ADO.NET Data Services Framework with Mike Flasko.
If you decide to download the Microsoft Sync Framework, you will probably want to take a peek at SyncToy:
“SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without additional complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another case. Unlike other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder.”
You will also want to look at FeedSync:
"RSS and Atom were designed as notification mechanisms, to alert clients that some new resource is available on a server. This is a great fit for simple applications like blogging. But those feed formats are not a natural fit for representing collections of resources that change, such as a contact list, or a collection of calendar items. Atom Publishing Protocol is designed for resource collections, but it is a client-server protocol and isn’t suitable (by itself) for multi-master scenarios. FeedSync extends RSS and Atom so that FeedSync-enabled RSS and Atom feeds can be used for reliable, efficient content replication and multi-master data synchronization."
A lot of really cool potential with the Microsoft Sync Framework.
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