Base4 is a Freeapplication server for generating, sharing and re-using.NET data layers; this is intended to allow a development team to leverage existing enterprise systems and common functionality instead starting from scratch. It shares many similarities with WinFS but is significantly simpler because it doesn't need to be backward compatible with the whole of the Win32 API stack. The latest version comes with a schema guesser to help new developers get started quickly. There is a video demonstrating this ability for setting up and writing in Base4
Features
Server has an embedded website for Creating, Guessing, Managing and Registering schemas, with no need to learn XMLsyntax.
Client/Server architecture allows many applications to act as a client of a Base4 Server at the same time, while centralizing common business logic. Business logic is bound typically to a schema and this is the primary unit of re-use in Base4. Each client application picks which schemas it needs to work with from those that the server makes available, and the server provides a central place which can enforce the business logic for that schema, independently of the client.
Allows you to define and generate a fully functional.NET data-layer by using the embedded website or, alternatively, by using the simple XML schema
Support for inter-schema references to encourage data-layer sharing and re-use
Support for schemas that databases
Support for schemas that databases
Support for Object SQL-like queries and deep pre-loading of objects using what is called ObjectScoping
Application Server supports add-ins to respond to lifecycle events
A core schema with built-in support for Files, Users, etc., and a framework for supporting Metadata promotion and demotion to and from files.
All generated data-layers provide extensive support for XML including XML persistence, object Readers, and Object Writers that work directly with XML
Automatic.NET Remoting configuration and custom type serialization management
Planned features: Version 3.0
Port from.NET Remoting to a completely REST based architecture
Ability to load and save objects via a full URL, not just an object key relative to the current connection
Ability to load and save individual object properties via a full URL, independent of their containing Object.
Code examples
Connecting to a server
using Base4.Storage; StorageContext.SetDefault;
Requesting objects from a server
See the examples here: https://web.archive.org/web/20070928040717/http://www.base4.net/quickstarts/quickstarts.aspx
FileBase file = StorageContext.FindOne; //Above: same as StorageContext.Default.FindOne if User user = StorageContext.FindOne; // Same as ItemContext.FindOne if
History
Project Started by Alex James and software consulting team -2004
