Need Clarifiaction to create a web app consuming a Workflow

0
votes

The application is like a document approval system. Came across these methods and not sure how to make use of the method 1. But familiar with method 2.

Method 1

  • WCF Workflow Service Application (.NET 4.5) option provided in visual studio. Look here

Method 2

  • Like here WCF+WF. Using WCF layer to create an instance of WF library.

Are these just different ways to achieve the same objective to host WF as a web service ?

If so how an ASP.NET application can consume service application created from first method ?

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workflowworkflow-foundation-4workflow-foundation

1 Answers

0
votes

Yes, they are indeed different approachs to achieve the same think.

Method 1 is using what is called a Workflow Service. With this your WCF service is, effectively, a workflow where the endpoints are ReceiveAndSendReply activities.

When you want to change service logic you alter your workflow and deploy it to IIS. Its a very simple process and there're a variety of tools to help you with it, where AppFabric is a standard. You can see which workflows are running, idle/persisted or suspended, etc.

Method 2 is adding a layer of complexity because, basically, it uses a normal WCF service to call a workflow. You don't have the flexibility of Workflow Services and the deploy process is unnecessarily more complex.

Go for Method 1 and don't look back. It's the standard way of doing it and perfect, for example, for long running workflows.