Workflow Redesign Not Backward Compatible

The Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) 4.0, currently in community technology preview (CTP) and expected to be released in late 2009 in the .NET Framework 4.0, is a complete rewrite of the programming framework. WF 4.0 will deliver many improvements, including simplified coding and better performance, but it is not backward compatible with the current version, which is used in several Microsoft products. Organizations with existing WF applications will have to decide between keeping the current WF running alongside the new one or reimplementing code, and organizations considering new projects might want to time them to take advantage of the new version.

WF Increasingly Common in Microsoft Products

WF consists of programming interfaces, design and debugging tools, and a runtime engine that enable the implementation and execution of workflow processes. Workflows are specialized programs that automate custom business processes and enforce custom business rules in applications. For example, a custom workflow in an accounting application might walk users through the approval process for purchase orders, while a content management workflow might coordinate the steps of publishing a new product list on a company’s Web site. Using software to automate workflows can relieve workers of repetitive and mechanical tasks, ensure that required procedures are followed, and improve the reliability, tracking, and transparency of those procedures. Several Microsoft products, including SharePoint, Dynamics CRM, and Dynamics AX employ WF for workflows.