Working with Microsoft WCF

In working with the Microsoft .NET WCF Services it does require a bit of a learning curve, along with trial and error.  Here are some of my notes on the topic:

• I found it works best to create my WCF Service stand-alone with a new WCF Service Library.  That way I could use the WcfSvcHost from F5 to unit test the Service before including it on my SilverLight application.
• I open the IIS manager and select the top level web site, then perform a right click "open" to locate the proper place to insert the clientaccessproxy.xml (which I test with a wide open version)
• I used the WCF Configuration Editor instead of editing the XML by hand.  However, for some reason the WCF Editor doesn't always appear in the right click context menu for the *.config file.  In those cases, I had to actually go to the "tools" menu and specifically select the WCF Editor, then simply close it.  Afterwards, it appears in the context menu (weird).
• I had to always remember to update the "Web Service Reference" frequently, as changes to the WCF Service aren't reflected in the Reference.vb/Reference.cs file until an update is performed.
• DNRTV.com has wonderful videos to help you learn the tricks and techniques for .NET development, including WCF and SilverLight.
• I would run the debugger from both the client side in the XAML code and on the server side with the .XAP and WCF code.
• For some reason the MIMETYPE for all the SilverLight file types need to be specified in the root web site.
• I used the EventViewer and IIS log files quite frequently for debugging.
• I used the commandline "aspnet_regiis" from the C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework version folder to verify proper ASP.NET configuration.

I've run into many, many gotchas during my recent dive into the WCF/SilverLight world.

Some of these links help with examples and explainations:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/818364?wa=wsignin1.0

https://wiki.servicenow.com/index.php?title=Microsoft_.NET_Web_Services_Client_Examples

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/xb5th1ba(v=vs.80).aspx

http://petarvucetin.me/blog/2008/06/7-hidden-gems-tools-everyday-wcf-wf-developers/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb332338.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb924407.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ericwhite/archive/2010/05/11/getting-started-building-a-wcf-web-service.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa347733.aspx

http://carvingcode.blogspot.com/2010/04/creating-wcf-web-service-with-vs2010.html

http://www.tugberkugurlu.com/archive/getting-started-with-asp-net-web-api-tutorials-videos-samples

 dgp