We wrote this guide for developers, but Information Technology (IT) managers and analysts will find it useful as well. Managers may find the overview of Windows® Distributed interNet Applications Architecture (Windows DNA) particularly interesting because it introduces many of the concepts needed for building Windows DNA applications. Windows DNA is a framework that is both flexible and robust, and the overview explains why Windows DNA reduces development time and costs.
The BackOffice® Developer's Guide (BDG) should be used with other developer resources. For in-depth product documentation, refer to the Microsoft® Platform SDK and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN™), which cover all BackOffice products and technologies. These resources were critical in developing the application for each BDG scenario.
In addition to conceptual material and scenarios, the BDG provides a bibliography and several appendixes that will undoubtedly grow and change as new technologies and development techniques emerge and others become obsolete.
The first two BDG sample applications were designed for the fictional Fitch & Mather Corporation and the third sample application was designed for another fictional corporation, Main Street Hardware (see Planning and Research). Future installments may introduce other organizations into scenarios, particularly if we demonstrate how to build line-of-business and supply-chain applications. The corporation may be fictional, but our solutions are very real.