Beta for Windows Workflow Foundation

The first beta of the Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF) is now available. It is the workflow engine and framework intended for Vista, the next version of Windows (formerly codenamed ‘Longhorn’). WWF complements the Windows Communication Foundation (‘Indigo’) web service and Windows Presentation Foundation (‘Avalon’) graphics layers.

A workflow is a set of activities stored as a model that describe a real-world process. Work passes through the model from start to finish, and activities might be executed by people or by system functions. The WWF provides the tools to create a workflow model, which can then be executed within an application. A workflow can be defined in code, or by using a “flowchart” tool. Workflow provides an alternative architectural model, making use of SOA to create distributed systems. WWF isn’t a single technology, but an attempt to make it possible for developers to incorporate the model into their own designs. Microsoft is planning to use it within many of its applications, including Sharepoint, Biztalk and Office. It is also planning to make WWF available as an upgrade to Windows XP and 2003.