Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Tools

Windows Communication Foundation Tools

Microsoft Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) tools are designed to make it easier for you to create, deploy, and manage WCF applications. You can run all the tools from the command line.

WCF Test Client (WcfTestClient.exe)

A GUI tool that allows you to input parameters of arbitrary types, submit that input to the service, and view the response the service sends back.

You can locate this tool in below location:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\

WCF Service Host (WcfSvcHost.exe)

Hosts WCF services contained in libraries (*.dll) files. WCF Service Host enumerates the services in a WCF service project, loads the project’s configuration, and instantiates a host for each service that it finds. The tool is integrated into Visual Studio through the WCF Service template and is invoked when you start to debug your project. By using WCF Service Host, you can host a WCF service (in a WCF service library project) without writing extra code or committing to a specific host during development.

Service Trace Viewer Tool (SvcTraceViewer.exe)

Helps you view, group, and filter trace messages so that you can diagnose, repair, and verify issues with WCF services.

ServiceModel Registration Tool (ServiceModelReg.exe)

Manages the registration and un-registration of ServiceModel on a single machine. This command-line tool provides the ability to manage the registration of WCF and WF components on a single machine. Under normal circumstances you should not need to use this tool as WCF and WF components are configured when installed. But if you are experiencing problems with service activation, you can try to register the components using this tool.

Examples:

ServiceModelReg.exe -ia

  Installs all components

ServiceModelReg.exe -i -c:httpnamespace -c:etw

  Installs HTTP namespace reservation and ETW manifests

ServiceModelReg.exe -u -c:etw

  Uninstalls ETW manifests

ServiceModelReg.exe -r

  Repairs an extended install

Configuration Editor Tool (SvcConfigEditor.exe)

Creates and modifies configuration settings for WCF services. The Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Service Configuration Editor (SvcConfigEditor.exe) allows administrators and developers to create and modify configuration settings for WCF services using a graphical user interface. With this tool, you can manage settings for WCF bindings, behaviors, services, and diagnostics without having to directly edit XML configuration files. Service Configuration Editor can be found in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0\Bin folder.

Visual Studio Online

Visual Studio Online

Visual Studio Online (VSO) is a cloud based offering from Microsoft for teams that are developing software. It includes foundation services like source repository, tools for project planning and tracking and execution of build for Continuous Integration. Since Team Foundation Service (TFS) is in the cloud, teams can start working on these features without spending any time in installation and configuration.The infrastructure provisioning and maintenance required for these services is taken care of by Microsoft. 

Visual Studio Online connects to Visual Studio, Eclipse, Xcode, and other Git clients to support development for a variety of platforms and languages. Each Visual Studio Online account comes with five free users. As your team expands or your needs grow, mix and match user plans and resources to give each user what they need. Visual Studio with MSDN subscribers are free to join account projects exclusive of the included five free users.

Host your code in the cloud (Code Repository)

Host your code in the cloud to access it anytime, anywhere. Pick a traditional, centralized version control system using Team Foundation Version Control, or if you prefer a distributed approach, use Git repository. Whether you need to support a few, or a few thousand developers, host your source control in the cloud with advanced branching, merging and visualization capabilities.

Manage your work in one place (Agile Portfolio Management)

Manage your project in the cloud, too. Quickly plan, manage, and track work across all your backlogs and teams with easy-to-use, fully integrated tools for agile planning and portfolio management.

Build your applications in the cloud (Continuous Integration)

Create and manage build processes that automatically compile and test your applications in the cloud, either on demand or as part of an automated continuous integration strategy. Automate your cloud builds to run nightly or after every check-in to ensure your code builds and is ready for deployment.

Gain insight into your applications

Visual Studio Online Application Insights is a new cloud-based service (currently in preview) that collects rich operational, performance, and customer usage information from client/device apps or server applications – whether they run on-premises, in Microsoft Azure, a third-party cloud provider, or a combination of all three. See how your application is behaving behind the scenes and pinpoint bottlenecks with rich dashboards that allow you identify potential issues.

You can download Visual Studio online from here.