Sync Framework

The Sync Framework is a software platform for synchronizing data between independent databases, file systems, and other data sources. It can help developers create occasionally connected applications for mobile users who don’t have reliable, full-time network connections. Such applications benefit users who need the same data across multiple devices and who aren’t always online, which is common for mobile sales and field service personnel and traveling executives.

The Sync Framework run-time engine and APIs implement a generic protocol for synchronizing data sets (such as lists of contacts or browser favorites) across multiple data stores (such as the mobile devices and PC of a user). The protocol works with any type of data source, including file systems and databases, and can operate over any network protocol. Software components called providers manage synchronization for each data source type, handling tasks such as identifying data that have changed since the last synchronization, and detecting and resolving synchronization conflicts (e.g., two different versions of the same contact record). Microsoft supplies providers for SQL Server (both the full product and SQL Server Compact editions for PCs and mobile devices), Windows file systems, and Web data stores that use Microsoft’s FeedSync protocol (such as some Windows Live services).