Microsoft released the Enterprise Library based on ACA.NET which our engineering guys here at Avanade, work their butts off! Enterprise Library features new and updated versions of application blocks that were previously available as stand-alone application blocks. All Enterprise Library application blocks have been updated with a particular focus on consistency, extensibility, ease of use, and integration.

The application blocks that comprise the Enterprise Library are the following:

  • Caching Application Block. This application block allows developers to incorporate a local cache in their applications.
  • Configuration Application Block. This application block allows applications to read and write configuration information.
  • Data Access Application Block. This application block allows developers to incorporate standard database functionality in their applications.
  • Cryptography Application Block. This application block allows developers to include encryption and hashing functionality in their applications.
  • Exception Handling Application Block. This application block allows developers and policy makers to create a consistent strategy for processing exceptions that occur throughout the architectural layers of enterprise applications.
  • Logging and Instrumentation Application Block. This application block allows developers to incorporate standard logging and instrumentation functionality in their applications.
  • Security Application Block. This application block allows developers to incorporate security functionality in their applications. Applications can use the application block in a variety of situations, such as authenticating and authorising users against a database, retrieving role and profile information, and caching user profile information.

Different applications have different requirements and you will not find that every application block is useful in every application that you build. Before using an application block, you should have a good understanding of your application requirements and of the scenarios that the application block is designed to address.

You can also get some more information on Tom’s blog .