COM+ Programming: A Practical Guide Using Visual C++ and ATL [Paperback]

Pradeep Tapadiya (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0130886742 | ISBN-13: 978-0130886743

Several books teach COM and COM+, but this is one of the first to focus on COM/COM+ from a developer's perspective. Using case studies and practical programming examples, the author uncovers COM and COM+ in detail -- and shows how to avoid the traps and pitfalls that await the unwary. COM/COM+ expert Pradeep Tapadiya presents techniques for designing interfaces, building COM servers, synchronization, security, transactions, event notification issues, working with queued components, and administering distributed object environments. This book serves both novice programmers and experienced developers who wish to use COM+ to develop applications in the enterprise.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Introduction

Ever since software development became an engineering discipline, software development teams everywhere in the world have faced similar development and deployment problems. Among other things, developers today are concerned about:

Reusing code that has been tested and used in other applications

Developing flexible applications that can be customized to the users needs, but not at the expense of overburdening the development team

Addressing anomalies and add features after the application has been shipped, while avoiding a complete rewrite of the application

Improving application development time by leveraging against software code developed by third party software vendors

Developing distributed and non-distributed applications in a similar manner

All of these challenges and many more are addressed by a single technology: the Microsoft Component Object Model, better known as COM. COM is a framework for developing software components, small binary executables, that provide services to applications and other components.

The incredible explosion of the Internet has caused a revolution in the way information has to be made available to the users. In developing enterprise systems, the traditional client/server model has been replaced with a three-tier programming model, enhanced for Internet applications. Developing such enterprise systems is a time- and resource-consuming affair, as the system has to meet extra enterprise-level requirements such as scalability, robustness, security, transaction support, etc.

COM+ is an advanced run-time environment that provides services to meet many of the above-mentioned enterprise-level requirements. It is an integral part of the Windows 2000 Operating System. Developers can leverage the services provided by COM+, instead of building the services themselves.

This book focuses on understanding the COM+ architecture from a developer's perspective and building COM+ applications using Microsoft Visual C++ and the Active Template Library (ATL).

COM+ is not a radical departure from COM--it is just the next stage in the evolution of the COM programming model. As a matter of fact, it is very difficult to determine where COM ends and where COM+ begins. In order to understand the COM+ architecture and the services provided by COM+, it is necessary to understand the fundamental component model at the heart of COM+. To this end, the book is divided in two parts. The first part builds the foundation that is COM and the second part explains the services provided by COM+ version 1.0.About This Book

The purpose of writing this book is twofold. To help you:

Understand the COM/COM+ architecture, and

Explore the services provided by COM+ 1.0.

In order to achieve the stated goals, I have presented the material from a developer's perspective. I have illustrated the key concepts by writing some simple applications using Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0, Platform SDK (January 2000), and ATL 3.0. This book provides enough C++ code and tools to enable the readers to be more productive and to carry out further research.

As we progress through unfolding the COM+ architecture and services, I first present one or more software-engineering problems at hand, and then discuss the solution that COM+ has to offer. Whenever applicable, code snippets are provided to illustrate and explain the concepts.

In an attempt to focus on COM+ 1.0 architecture and services, I have refrained from including material that is not of any practical importance. Consequently, I do not discuss the origin and history of COM, or even Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), a precursor to COM+ 1.0. However, whenever possible, I have touched upon the new services that are being planned for the future release of COM+ (COM+ 1.x).Choice of Language

COM+ is a specification. As such, it is language independent. However, most COM-based components are currently written in C++. This book uses C++ for almost all the server-side code. Client-side usage is shown in C++, VB, or in any other language that is appropriate for the given situation.Prerequisites

The most important prerequisite for this book is your willingness to learn.

The book is written for intermediate to advanced developers. It is assumed that the readers have a working knowledge of the following:

Windows 2000 Operating System

C++ programming language

VB programming language

C++ templates. In particular, familiarity with C++ Standard Template Library (STL) is helpful

Developing programs using Win32 API

Windows 2000 security model

Strictly speaking, many of these assumptions can be relaxed. For example, knowledge of Win32 API or C++ templates is helpful but not mandatory. As we go through developing sample code, I am confident readers will automatically pick up the missing information.Sample Code

All the examples provided in the book are concise and complete. For brevity, I sometimes show only the relevant code snippet in the book. However, complete source code is available on the companion CD. All the examples and tools have been compiled under Visual C++ 6.0 SP3 and Platform SDK (January 2000), and have been tested with the release version of Windows 2000 OS.References

This book frequently refers to other books, Microsoft's Knowledge Base articles, articles from various journals and from Microsoft's Developers Network (MSDN) Library. All the references for a particular chapter are listed at the end of the chapter. Each reference is indexed by a keyword that uses a combination of author's last name and year the reference was published. For example, Don Box's book Essential COM, which was published in 1998, is indexed as Box-98. In the book, each time I have to refer to an article, I use the keyword index of the reference.Chapter Organization

The book is divided into two parts. The first part, The Foundation, consists of three chapters. It explains the fundamentals of Component Object Model and shows how to design and develop COM-based applications. Each chapter builds on the knowledge from the previous chapter.

The second part, The Extension, focuses on COM+ architecture and services provided by COM+ 1.0. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of COM+. These chapters are largely independent of each other. Chapter five, however, explains the COM+ programming model, and should be read before looking into any other COM+ chapter.Companion CDThe companion CD contains the following:

The source code for the C++ utility classes and tools developed in the book.

The entire source code for all the examples arranged by chapters.

More information about the contents of the CD can be found in the read-me file on the CD.

From the Back Cover

• Maximizing COM/COM+ software reusability and scalability: practical solutions!
• Developing robust enterprise COM+ applications: Proven guidelines and sample code
• In-depth coverage: IDL interface design, COM+ synchronization, transactions, queuing, security, events, and more
• Techniques for administering distributed component environments

Maximizing COM/COM+ reuse and scalability: practical, enterprise-class solutions!

If you're ready to develop COM/COM+ enterprise applications, start with this practical, solutions-focused guide! Using case studies and real-world code examples, Hewlett-Packard COM/COM+ expert Pradeep Tapadiya presents COM and COM+ in detail, from a developer's perspective. You'll master powerful techniques for improving reusability, scalability, and robustness-and discover how to avoid the traps and pitfalls that await the unwary. Tapadiya demonstrates today's best approaches to designing interfaces, building COM servers, dealing with transactions, and more, including:

• In-depth coverage of interface design with IDL
• A full chapter on maximizing the scalability of COM/COM+ applications
• Maximizing security in distributed, component-based environments
• COM+ synchronization, apartments, activities, and event notification
• Working with queued components
• Administering distributed component environments

Whether you're new to component development, migrating to COM+ and Windows 2000, or an experienced developer seeking powerful new techniques, you'll find the answers in COM+ Programming: A Practical Guide Using Visual C++ and ATL.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall (September 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130886742
• ISBN-13: 978-0130886743
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #862,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Develop the ever elusive "understanding", January 23, 2001

By 

C. Duvall (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: COM+ Programming: A Practical Guide Using Visual C++ and ATL (Paperback)

Beginning with the very first chapter, this book blew me away with the attention to detail. I not only learned the semantics of COM and associated technologies, but I understood the background and progression of the language, which to me is asset that is important to any serious developer interested in this area. Using real world analogies, Pradeep gives the ability to relate the paradigm to things that anyone can relate to.

Do not hesitate to purchase this book if you are not familiar with COM and want to be able to start from the beginning. This book would also be excellent for a COM programmer migrating to COM+ because of the structure of the presentation.

Excellent read! It was worth more than the price!

Background Needed: C++ (preferably Visual C++), Windows 2000.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and comprehensive, December 11, 2000

By 

"ukavu" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: COM+ Programming: A Practical Guide Using Visual C++ and ATL (Paperback)

This book offers a rapid introduction to the traditional COM framework, but spends most of its rigor on the services of COM+. Example code is clear, concise, and most of all, consistent. Many of the points brought up describe various pitfalls and bugs that lie outside the scope of a typical reference book. The mechanics of COM/COM+ are also explained in enough technical detail to keep most curious developers happy. Sections are formatted in a way that explains how to implement a particular service, then how the framework can do it for you. It's a very constructive way to become familiar with the material and definitely a worthwhile addition to your COM library.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book with very detailed approach: MUST HAVE, October 31, 2000

By 

Alan Wilke (Jersey City, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: COM+ Programming: A Practical Guide Using Visual C++ and ATL (Paperback)

Not only the author knows COM+ in detail, he also knows how to express the ideas very well. The book covers in enough details all the aspects of COM+. The examples are easy to understand. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning COM and COM+.