CSLA is a development framework for business applications. It has been developed by Rockford Lhotka (www.lhotka.net), Microsoft MVP and Magenic consultant (www.magenic.com), a Microsoft Worldwide Partner.
FRAMEWORKS
Why programming using a framework? Certainly starting to write code lines under a 3-button is simple and, like everything else in life, has its place. Small applications with very specific features and difficult to reuse, can be developed without a framework, because they are much more complicated to implement.
Now, let’s say that because of the usual rush, we began to produce in order to have a result in a few days. Perfect, everyone’s happy. Now after several months of developing programs with this philosophy, we have to change something in some of them. Hold on! All the programs must be corrected! And besides, the same feature to be modified is used in multiple parts of them. We have a typical case of “spaghetti code”. Now we’re paying in full for everything we had saved.
If we have a programming framework, it means that we start from a common superstructure. Let’s compare a tall building to the software development process. Each flat would be a different programme. The set of supports, columns, main walls and other common elements are the framework. Let’s say that the electricity meter of each flat has to be replaced due to a change in the legal regulations. Instead of going flat to flat looking for the place where each resident wanted to put it, we would go to the meter room, and there they are, all together ready for a quick change.
This simple example shows one of the huge advantages of frameworks programming: code manageability. Each program relies on the same methods, which are always in the same place. Quite often, it only takes one change to make all the programs meet the new feature.
Well, to keep talking about frameworks would lead to publishing a book. But at Flash Data we have been using them for years and, honestly, we strongly suggest their implementation in most cases.
Well, to keep talking about frameworks would lead to publishing a book. csla Framework
Why this one in particular? For many reasons. Some of them are:
- The source code is provided by the manufacturer, both in C# and VB
- The source code is provided by the manufacturer, both in C# and VB
- Business logic, data access and presentation are separated
- It incorporates the best “recognized practices” of software architecture
- Unlimited undo capability, when a user decides to cancel the edit
- Direct data link between user interface and business classes
- Linking to complex object data, such as collections
- Active and collaborative user community
- Free use license (except for manufacturing other frameworks)
- Business rules implementation in the architecture
- Mapping between data repository and business classes
- Scalability due to factory use of “non-anchored” objects
- Safety based on multiple concurrent patterns and additives
Flash Data and CSLA At Flash Data we have been working with this framework before .NET. And we have implemented adjustments in environments such as the Sant Pau Hospital or the Housing Board, both in Barcelona.